Godwin Emefiele, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has asked Justice Rahman Oshodi to step down from his trial, citing concerns of bias. His legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Olalekan Ojo, made the request during Monday’s proceedings at the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos.
Justice Oshodi has scheduled February 26, 2025, to decide whether he will recuse himself from the case.
Charges Against Emefiele
Emefiele faces 19 charges, including allegations of abuse of office, receiving gratification, and corrupt demands. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) initially filed 22 charges against him and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile. However, on January 8, 2025, the court dismissed four counts related to abuse of office while retaining jurisdiction over the remaining charges.
Testimonies and WhatsApp Evidence
During the hearing, the EFCC’s seventh prosecution witness, John Adetola, testified that he received $400,000 from John Ayoh and delivered it to Emefiele at his office. The prosecution also attempted to present WhatsApp messages retrieved from Omoile’s phone as evidence.
However, the defence objected, arguing that the messages had only been admitted for identification purposes and should not be used as evidence. Despite this, Justice Oshodi permitted the witness to read from the document, which led Emefiele’s lawyer to accuse the judge of bias.
Defence’s Call for Recusal
Ojo, representing Emefiele, argued that judicial bias could be either deliberate or subconscious. He insisted that the judge should recuse himself, stating, “At this stage, I urge the court to recuse itself.” Omoile’s lawyer, Gbadamosi Kazeem (SAN), also supported the request.
EFCC’s Response
Opposing the motion, EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), described it as a delay strategy.
“This proceeding has been conducted fairly and equitably. My Lordship has ruled against us multiple times. If the defence is dissatisfied, they should follow the proper legal channels to challenge the rulings,” Oyedepo argued.
He further contended that such a request should be made formally rather than orally, adding, “The only reasonable conclusion is that this application is meant to delay the matter.”
Pending Applications
Before the adjournment, Emefiele’s legal team also sought permission to appeal the court’s earlier ruling on jurisdiction.
Justice Oshodi has set February 26, 2025, to deliver his decision on the recusal request and other pending applications.
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