The Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja will decide on January 7, 2025, whether to uphold an objection raised by former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, regarding the $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion fraud charges against him. Emefiele, alongside his co-defendant Henry Omoile, is facing 26 charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Rahman Oshodi.
At Thursday’s hearing, Emefiele’s legal counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), argued that the court lacked territorial jurisdiction to hear the case in Lagos. Ojo contended that the alleged offences, including abuse of office, occurred outside the jurisdiction of the Ikeja Special Offences Court, and that the charges violated Section 36(12) of the Nigerian Constitution.
He further claimed that the Lagos State House of Assembly had no authority over matters on the Exclusive Legislative List, making Section 73 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011 inapplicable.
Ojo urged the court to strike out counts one to four of the amended charge sheet filed on April 4, 2024, arguing that the offences occurred outside the court’s jurisdiction.
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In response, EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) argued that the charges fell under the EFCC’s jurisdiction, asserting that there was sufficient evidence linking the offences to Lagos as the proper venue for the trial.
Oyedepo rejected the defence’s objection, stating that the charges were valid and supported by the facts of the case.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter to January 7, 2025, for a ruling on the objection
