The Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja, has dismissed an application filed by the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear an alleged abuse of office suit against him.
Justice Rahman Oshodi, in his ruling, held that the court has jurisdiction to preside over the matter.
Emefiele was arraigned before the court on April 8, 2024, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 26 26-count charges of alleged abuse of office and irregular allocation of $4.5bn and N2.8bn respectively.
He was mentioned in counts 1 to 4 regarding allocation of foreign exchange without a bid as well as counts 8 to 26 for alleged abuse of office, accepting gratification, making corrupt demands, receiving property fraudulently obtained and conferring corrupt advantage, which is contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
Justice Oshodi also held that the EFCC established a territorial jurisdiction of the court on counts 8 to 26 with facts in the proof of evidence attached to the case file.
The court, however, agreed with Emefiele’s lawyers that counts 1 to 4 of the charges are unconstitutional, as they are not based on any existing laws in Nigeria and subsequently struck them out.
Justice Oshodi ruled that the objection challenging the court’s territorial jurisdiction in counts 8 to 26 lacks merit and dismissed it.
The court adjourned to February 24 and 26 for continuation of the trial.