The Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has permitted two United States (US)-based witnesses in the trial of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele to testify virtually.
The EFCC made this known in a statement it shared on its official X account on Friday morning.
“A prosecution counsel in the ongoing trial of Godwin Emefiele on Thursday, October 17, 2024 prayed Justice Maryanne Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, Abuja, to allow two of his witnesses, I.E Obiora and Aisha Ahmed currently in the United States of America to give testimony via video links,” the statement read.
The EFCC is prosecuting Emefiele on a four-count charge bordering on disobedience of legal directives and illegal actions; causing harm to the public concerning the controversial naira redesign policy.
At the resumed session of the matter on Thursday, the counsel, Abass Mohammed, informed the court that his team encountered difficulties in bringing the witnesses to Nigeria and sought to file a motion to have the oral evidence of the witnesses taken via ZoomZoom or other video platforms.
“We filed a motion seeking my lord’s indulgence to take the oral evidence of the two witnesses via zoom or any other video links, my lord,” he said.
He further said the motion had been served on the defence counsels, adding, “Subject to my lord’s permission, we seek my lord’s permission to move the motion.”
Defence counsel, A. Labi-Lawal, responding to the prosecution, expressed no objection to the prosecution’s application but sought clarification on whether the witnesses would be the last to be called by the prosecution.
“We are not opposing the motion, but we would like to confirm from the prosecution whether these are the only witnesses that are left in the trial, my lord,” he said.
Mohammed clarified that there were other witnesses apart from the two based in the U.S., maintaining that the prosecution was calling the witnesses first as part of an ongoing review of its case plan.
Justice Anenih, after hearing the parties, granted the prosecution’s request and adjourned the trial till November 14, 26 and December 4, 2024 as well as January 21, 2025.
