The Lagos State Special Offences Court has ruled that it has jurisdiction to hear the $4.5bn and N2.8bn fraud charges brought against former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile.
Justice Rahman Oshodi, delivering the ruling on Wednesday, dismissed the jurisdiction challenge raised by Godwin Emefiele’s counsel, Mr. Olalekan Ojo (SAN).
However, the court struck out four of the 26 counts filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), citing lack of jurisdiction over those charges.
“Allocation of foreign exchange without reason is not defined as an offence under any written law. The objection to counts one to four succeeds and is hereby struck out,” Justice Oshodi stated.
On counts eight to 26, the judge held that the prosecution established sufficient territorial nexus, dismissing the objection and confirming the court’s jurisdiction.
The EFCC alleges that Godwin Emefiele committed offenses including abuse of office and illegal allocation of funds while serving as CBN governor.
Despite arguments from Emefiele’s counsel that the offenses fell outside the court’s territorial reach and violated constitutional provisions, EFCC counsel Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) insisted that Lagos was the appropriate venue for the trial, citing substantial evidence.
The case has been adjourned to February 24 and 26, 2025, for trial continuation.