An Ikeja Special Offences Court, on Friday, May 3, adjourned until May 9, for the defence to study additional proof of evidence submitted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
Emefiele was charged with $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion fraud.
Justice Rahman Oshodi, in his short ruling, said he had considered the submissions of both parties and was satisfied with the reasons given by the defence for adjournment.
He said: “I have considered the conflicting submissions regarding whether I should adjourn for further continuation of trial or not. I am satisfied with the reasons given by the defence. For the adjournment sought, I grant it. I adjourned until May 9 for continuation of trial.”
Earlier, counsel for the ex-CBN governor, Olalekan Ojo, had informed the court that the prosecution had filed an additional proof of evidence and he needed enough time to go through it.
Ojo argued that Emefiele had not seen the document and that justice rushed was justice crushed.
“I am constrained at this point to ask your lordship to do justice, the proof must be served early enough but I was being served this morning.
“Defence may find anything useful in the additional proof of evidence to cross-examine the witness in the box.
“I humbly urge the court to adjourn this matter so that I can thoroughly go through it and study it,” he said.
The second defence counsel, Mr Adeyinka Kotoye (SAN), also aligned himself with the submission of the first defence counsel.
Kotoye argued that it was only in this part of the world that prosecution would be conducting an investigation, while a case was already ongoing in court.
He, therefore, urged the court to adjourn the case in the interest of justice and adequate opportunity to study the additional proof of evidence