Ex-CBN governor Emefiele defeats EFCC in courtroom, will get approval to rent forensic specialists

The Lagos State Particular Offences Court docket in Ikeja has granted Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the Central {Bank} of Nigeria (CBN), permission to have interaction forensic specialists to look at WhatsApp conversations and a cell machine tendered as proof in his fraud trial.

Ruling on Monday, Rahman Oshodi, the presiding choose, gave the order after Emefiele’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), utilized for go away to permit an impartial forensic skilled to examine the handset, marked “iPhone 2,” and confirm the authenticity of the extracted WhatsApp messages already admitted as displays.

“The defence seeks the courtroom’s go away to name a forensic skilled to look at each the cell machine and printed conversations allegedly linked to the defendants,” Ojo instructed the courtroom.

Emefiele is standing trial alongside his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, on 19 counts bordering on abuse of workplace, receiving gratification, corruption, and fraudulent property transactions involving $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion.

The costs have been filed by the {Economic} and {Financial} Crimes Fee (EFCC).

Nevertheless, Chineye Okezie, counsel to the EFCC, opposed the appliance, arguing that displays admitted throughout trial ought to stay within the courtroom’s custody till proceedings are concluded.

She faulted the defence for failing to reveal the identify of the forensic laboratory or the {qualifications} of the personnel anticipated to deal with the machine.

Okezie urged the courtroom to mandate that the EFCC’s director of the forensic division choose the laboratory, make sure the train is monitored by a prosecution-nominated consultant, and protect the chain of custody.

Delivering his ruling, Oshodi held that the defence was entitled to an impartial forensic evaluate offered safeguards have been in place to guard the integrity of the proof.

He ordered that the inspection be carried out within the presence of representatives from all events, with all sides allowed to deliver one lawyer and one forensic skilled.

A courtroom consultant will supervise the train, which should happen between 10 a.m. and a pair of p.m. on September 24 and 26, 2025.

The choose directed that the chain of custody of Exhibit E (iPhone 2) have to be preserved and that the machine stay within the courtroom’s custody always.

The trial was adjourned to October 7 and eight for continuation, and October 9 for additional listening to.