EFCC submits further proof of proof towards Emefiele
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has submitted further proof of proof towards the previous governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.
During the courtroom listening to on Friday, Emefiele’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo requested an adjournment to evaluation the brand new proof earlier than persevering with the cross-examination of John Ikechukwu Ayoh, the second prosecution witness.
Ojo accused the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, of partaking in “trial by ambush” and never being diligent of their prosecution.
He instructed the courtroom that he simply acquired the extra proof of proof from the EFCC.
He stated the brand new proof of proof was filed on Thursday, saying he wanted to review the extra proof of proof to cross-examine the prosecution witness.
He instructed the courtroom, “My lord, there’s a have to adjourn this case. We had been simply served these big paperwork by the EFCC in courtroom.
“The prosecution keeps dumping documents on us at every sitting. This is trial by ambush.”
Sharing the identical sentiment, the counsel to the second defendant, Adeyinka Kotoye, additionally stated he was served the extra proof of proof 5 minutes after arriving in courtroom.
In his defence, Oyedepo argued that they offered paperwork from a former aide to Emefiele in preparation for his testimony, saying it didn’t have an effect on the continuing cross-examination.
He added that it was unfair to explain the service of processes by the prosecution as “ambush by trial”.
Oyedepo emphasised that the extra proof submitted had been paperwork obtained from the cellphone of a former aide to Emefiele, John Adetona, who is ready to testify as a witness.
He additionally clarified that these paperwork had been offered prematurely for Adetona’s future testimony and that he was not scheduled to seem in courtroom on the current or upcoming listening to on May 9.
“The witness (Adetona) whose device the documents were printed from has not given evidence before the court,” Oyedepo stated.
“In preparation for his testimony which isn’t arising at the moment or May 9, the prosecution quite ready for the defence to formally demand the exhausting copies the prosecution workforce printed the paperwork out.
“How does that amount to prosecutorial unfairness?”
Oyedepo, nonetheless, requested that the courtroom instruct the defence counsels to conclude their cross-examination of the second prosecution witness.
He clarified that the introduction of latest paperwork doesn’t hinder or affect the continuing cross-examination of this witness.
However, Emefiele’s lawyer disagreed, stating that he wanted time to evaluation the brand new paperwork as they might include useful data to be used throughout cross-examination.
In his ruling, the presiding decide, Rahman Oshodi, agreed with the defendant’s counsel.
Oshodi then adjourned the matter to May 9.
Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, are at present being tried in a Lagos excessive courtroom on a 26-count cost.
Both the previous CBN governor and Omoile pleaded not responsible to all of the charges towards them.
