Court admits supreme court forfeiture judgment as exhibit in Emefiele’s trial

The Ikeja Special Offences Court has admitted the certified true copy (CTC) of the Supreme Court judgment as an exhibit in the ongoing trial of Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Emefiele is facing a 19-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), bordering on the alleged receipt of gratification and corrupt demands during his tenure as CBN governor.

His co-defendant, Henry Omoile, is facing a separate three-count charge over the alleged unlawful acceptance of gifts as an agent. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

At the resumption of hearing on Friday, Alvan Gurumnaan, an EFCC investigator, continued his testimony before the court.

During the proceedings, Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to the EFCC, sought to tender the CTC of the supreme court judgement as an exhibit. The defence counsel opposed the move.

Olalekan Ojo, counsel to Emefiele, told the court that said the CTC could not be regarded as a valid supreme judgement because it was signed by only four justices, whereas decisions of the apex court are delivered by a panel of five or seven justices.

Ojo argued that supreme court judgement emanated from non-conviction proceedings and was therefore irrelevant to the prosecution’s current case.

Emefiele’s lawyer asked the court to dismiss the document.

Supporting Ojo’s argument, Adeyinka Kotoye, counsel to the second defendant, said the document should be rejected because the prosecution attempted to introduce the document after proceedings had commenced.

Responding, Oyedepo said the CTC was a duly certified copy of a supreme court judgement, adding that it satisfied the requirements of sections 102 and 104 of the Evidence Act.

In a brief ruling, Rahman Oshodi, the trial judge, ruled that the supreme court judgement was a public document and that the certification requirements had been met.

The judge admitted the document as exhibit 10.

The case was adjourned until December 17, 18, 2026, and January 11, 14 and 19, 2027, for the continuation of trial.

THE SUPREME COURT JUDGMENT

On July 17, 2026, the supreme court affirmed the final forfeiture to the federal government of properties and $2.045 million linked to Emefiele.

The apex court overturned the decision of the court of appeal in Lagos, which had nullified the forfeiture order issued by the federal high court.

The forfeited properties include two fully detached duplexes of identical structures situated at No. 17b Hakeem Odumosu street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos; an undeveloped land, measuring 1919.592 sqm with Survey Plan No. DS/LS/340 at Oyinkan Abayomi drive (formerly Queens drive), Ikoyi, Lagos; a bungalow at No. 65a Oyinkan Abayomi drive (formerly Queens drive), Ikoyi, Lagos and a four-bedroom duplex at 12a Probyn road, Ikoyi.

Others are an industrial complex under construction on 22 plots of land in Agbor, Delta state; an eight-unit detached apartment on a plot measuring 2457.60sqm at No. 8a Adekunle Lawal road, Ikoyi, and a duplex together with all its appurtenances on a plot of land measuring 2217.87sqm at 2a Bank Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.