News
Alleged $4.5bn Fraud: Court Adjourns Ruling on Emefiele’s Forensic Review Application to September 15
- /home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/EFCC-To-Arraign-Emefiele-1000x600.jpg&description=Alleged $4.5bn Fraud: Court Adjourns Ruling on Emefiele’s Forensic Review Application to September 15', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
- Share
- Tweet /home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 72
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/EFCC-To-Arraign-Emefiele-1000x600.jpg&description=Alleged $4.5bn Fraud: Court Adjourns Ruling on Emefiele’s Forensic Review Application to September 15', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
The Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, has fixed September 15, 2025, to rule on an application by a former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, seeking a forensic examination of some WhatsApp messages admitted in evidence in his ongoing trial for an alleged $4.5 billion and ₦2.8 billion fraud.
Justice Rahman Oshodi fixed the date after listening to arguments from Emefiele’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), challenging the authenticity of the digital messages presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against him.
Through the lawyer, the former CBN boss told the court that he would need to engage a forensic expert to confirm the veracity of the evidence.
The defendant asked the court to permit the forensic expert to examine both the mobile device identified as an “iPhone 2” used to extract the messages, as well as the printed chat logs.
The senior lawyer argued that the forensic analysis was necessary to verify the credibility of the evidence, which played a critical role in the case being prosecuted by the EFCC.
He said, “My Lord, we are requesting permission to conduct a forensic analysis of the mobile device and the messages extracted therefrom in order to verify their authenticity and integrity.
“It is a critical element of our defence,” Ojo submitted.
In opposing the application, the EFCC counsel, Chinenye Okezie, told the court that the defendant had failed to meet the procedural requirements for such an application.
Okezie also submitted that once such an exhibit has been admitted into evidence, the court assumed custody of the item and it must remain intact until the conclusion of the trial.
She stressed that the defence had not provided adequate details about the forensic process, including the name of the lab, the qualifications or experience of the personnel to conduct the analysis, or the expected duration of the examination.
“The defendants have not offered any options of accredited forensic labs for the court to consider,” Okezie noted.
“We urge the court to direct the Director of the Forensic Department of the Commission to nominate a certified forensic laboratory if the application is to be granted,” Okezie added.
She also stated that there must be a proper chain of custody to ensure the device isn’t tampered with and it is returned to the court upon conclusion of the exercise.
“Any examination should be conducted in the presence of a qualified expert to be nominated by the prosecution. This is to prevent any tampering and to guarantee the integrity of the process,” Okezie added.
After listening to both sides, Justice Oshodi adjourned his ruling on the issue till September 15 after the courts’ annual vacation.
Background
Emefiele is standing trial alongside his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, on a 19-count charge bordering on conspiracy, money laundering, and fraud, brought against them by the EFCC.
At the last sitting of the court on May 27, an official of the EFCC, Alvan Gurumnaan, who is testifying as the 8th Prosecution Witness, had told the Court how the former CBN Governor, allegedly received a total of $17.1 million in cash through a proxy, for three years.
The EFCC subsequently tendered in evidence, all documents gathered in relation to these transactions.
Through his lawyers, the former CBN Governor then indicated his readiness to subject to forensic inspection all the documents and exhibits tendered.
President Bola Tinubu has signed a new executive order establishing a coordinated regulatory framework for virtual assets in Nigeria, with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) taking the lead in overseeing the sector.
The Presidency announced on Friday that the Presidential Executive Order on Virtual Assets Coordination, 2026, takes immediate effect.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the government said the directive is aimed at harmonising the regulation of virtual assets, strengthening collaboration among financial regulators, protecting Nigerians from fraud and encouraging responsible innovation.
According to the statement, the executive order became necessary because the rapid evolution of virtual assets has blurred “the traditional boundaries between currencies, money, commodities and securities”, creating regulatory overlaps and gaps.
The Presidency noted that weak coordination among regulatory agencies has left the country vulnerable to money laundering, terrorism financing, cybercrime, fraud and revenue leakages.
“Too often, unregistered and fraudulent operators have exploited these gaps to prey on unsuspecting Nigerians, costing families their savings,” the statement said.
To address these concerns, the executive order establishes a Virtual Asset Council chaired by the CBN, while the NRS and SEC will serve as vice-chairs.
Other members of the council include the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Onanuga said the council will provide policy direction, strengthen cooperation among participating agencies and work with the Attorney-General of the Federation to develop a harmonised legal and institutional framework for regulating virtual assets.
The order also creates a Virtual Asset Office, which will be domiciled at the CBN to coordinate information sharing, applications and reporting among relevant agencies.
The presidential spokesman stressed that the new framework does not create another regulator or diminish the statutory responsibilities of existing institutions.
“Significantly, the Order does not create a new regulator or transfer powers between agencies. Each institution retains its full statutory mandate and independence, and the framework coordinates their work rather than replacing it,” the statement added.
Under the new framework, the SEC will continue to regulate virtual assets classified as securities, while the CBN will supervise payment, settlement, custody and other services involving non-security virtual assets. Where regulatory jurisdiction is unclear, the Virtual Asset Council will determine the appropriate supervising agency.
The Presidency also disclosed that the CBN is moving ahead with plans to establish a regulatory sandbox for the virtual assets industry.
According to Onanuga, the sandbox will enable qualified operators to test virtual asset products, blockchain-based services and other innovations under regulatory supervision before they are introduced to the wider market.
“It will help ensure that innovations that reach Nigerians have been properly examined and supervised,” the spokesperson said.
Further details of the sandbox are expected to be announced by the apex bank.
The statement added that the Nigeria Revenue Service will also introduce a tax policy specifically for the virtual assets sector to clarify how existing tax laws apply and improve voluntary compliance.
In addition, the Federal Government is finalising a Virtual Assets White Paper that will outline Nigeria’s long-term policy direction for the industry.
The newly established Virtual Asset Council has also been directed to develop a harmonised implementation framework within 30 days to facilitate the execution of the presidential order.
The Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it will appeal the judgement of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which struck out the suit filed against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seeking recognition for them.
The suit was filed by the Senator Adolphus Wabara-led Board of Trustees, asking the Court to interpret the Supreme Court’s judgement and direct INEC to list the names of the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee on its website as the party’s genuine leadership.
National Publicity Secretary of the group, Comrade Ini Ememobong, said in a statement that while they respect the court’s judgement, they have briefed their legal team to appeal it.
The judgement is a setback for the faction, which was hoping to present former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
The statement read, “Today, the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, presided over by Justice Salim Olasupo Ibrahim, upheld the Preliminary Objection of the defendants and struck out the case filed by the Board of Trustees and some founding leaders of the Party, seeking, among other reliefs, the recognition of the Kabiru Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee.
“The court held that the subject matter of the suit is the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party and is an internal affair of the party- a matter over which the court’s jurisdiction has been ousted.
“While we respect the judgment of the trial court, we respectfully consider that it is against the extant judgments of the Appeal and apex courts, leaving the plaintiffs with no option but to appeal the judgment and the rulings therein.”
“The plaintiffs have accordingly instructed their lawyers to take immediate steps to appeal the rulings and the judgment.
“We are hopeful that as we climb the ladder of the law, the victory of truth over lies, principles over compromise, and the survival of true opposition and multi-party democracy will be assured.
“The politics of power, money and greed may last for a while, but we are certain that though our victory may be postponed, as the struggle continues, we will eventually attain it.”
A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a suit seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to recognise and publish the names of the Kabiru Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
Justice Salim Ibrahim, in a judgement delivered on Friday, held that the plaintiffs, led by the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara, lacked the legal standing to institute the suit and consequently struck it out for want of jurisdiction.
The court upheld the preliminary objection filed by INEC and sustained similar objections raised by parties seeking to be joined in the suit, ruling that the plaintiffs failed to establish that INEC had recognised the purported Interim National Working Committee or that they had the authority to sue on behalf of the PDP.
Tinubu signs executive order to regulate cryptocurrency, virtual assets
Navy hands 756kg of seized cannabis to NDLEA
Turaki-led PDP to appeal Federal High Court judgement on suit against INEC
-
Entertainment21 hours agoChioma is my lifeline she manages my finances – Davido reveals
-
News20 hours agoTinubu Scared Of My Grassroots Popularity Ahead Of 2027 Election – Sowore
-
News20 hours agoNDLEA declares drug kingpin, 3 associates wanted, blocks N9.8billion in accounts(Photos)
-
Entertainment32 minutes agoR Kelly officially asks President Trump to end his 30-year prison sentence for s 3x crimes
-
News18 hours agoDAY 28 of Projects Commissioning and Flag-Off in the FCT
-
News14 hours agoFG Renames Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway After President Tinubu
-
News24 minutes agoSupreme Court Orders Final Forfeiture Of Emefiele’s Luxury Properties
-
Foreign13 hours agoWhoever Kills Trump Gets $10 Million – Iraqi militia Announces
Warning: Undefined variable $user_ID in /home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/themes/zox-news/comments.php on line 49
You must be logged in to post a comment Login