Crime
Justice Orders EFCC to Produce Emefiele Trial Witness
Justice Hamza Muazu orders EFCC to produce trial witness in Godwin Emefiele’s CBN procurement fraud case or face case closure
Justice Hamza Muazu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to produce its witness in the procurement fraud trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele, or risk having the case closed.
Also read: Zenith Bank: Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe Releases Certified True Copy (CTC) of her Judgment, Call Out Fake and Junk Journalist
The judge imposed a fine of N500,000 on the anti-graft agency after it failed to present Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Elohor Edwin Okpoziakeo, who is a key investigator in the case.
Justice Muazu ruled that the witness must appear in court on the next adjourned date of April 27 or the court would take decisive action under the law.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, EFCC counsel A.O. Mohammed explained that the witness could not attend due to administrative procedures and a personal matter at the FCT High Court, where his account was under garnishee order.
The prosecutor requested an adjournment to allow the DCP to testify.
However, Emefiele’s lead counsel, Matthew Burkaa, SAN, strongly opposed the request, noting that EFCC had already been granted eight adjournments, exceeding the statutory limit of five under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
Burkaa argued that the prosecution’s choice to prioritise the witness’s personal matter over court proceedings should not justify further delays.
Justice Muazu acknowledged the defence’s arguments but emphasised that the court retains discretion to grant an adjournment in the interest of justice.
He stressed that investigators are vital to cases of this magnitude, but maintained the N500,000 fine against EFCC for causing delays.
The trial was adjourned to April 27 and 28 for continuation.
Emefiele faces a 20-count amended charge including criminal breach of trust, forgery, abuse of office, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence, and obtaining money by false pretence while serving as CBN governor.
He is accused of misappropriating $6,230,000 intended for international election observers during the 2023 general election and conferring corrupt advantages on April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd.
Also read: Win The Trophy, Receive $250,000, Femi Otedola Promises Super Eagles
The former CBN governor has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
For the disgraced monarch, Oba Gbenga Joseph Oloyede, the walls appear to be closing in on the once revered monarch from every direction. Just when many thought prison time in the United States was punishment enough for his shameful act, another crushing blow has landed — this time from his home state.
In a dramatic move that has sent shockwaves across Osun State and beyond, the Osun State Government has officially deposed Oloyede as the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu, stripping him of the throne, and the exalted seat he once occupied with splendour, influence and regal authority.
If the embattled royal figure ever entertained hopes of returning to reclaim his stool in Nigeria after serving his sentence abroad, such dreams have now been shattered. The decision to depose him, announced last Tuesday, marked the final unravelling of a reign now remembered more for scandal than sovereignty.
Oba Oloyede is currently serving a four-year prison sentence in the United States following his conviction over COVID-19 fraud-related offences — a stunning development that transformed a once-revered monarch into a global embarrassment.
According to the state government, his removal was carried out in accordance with the Osun State Chiefs Law and other extant regulations governing traditional institutions.
But beyond the legal language lies a deeper symbolism: a king has fallen into disrepute.
The government did not stop at mere deposition. All instruments of office earlier bestowed on him, including the sacred staff of office — the ultimate symbol of traditional authority — have all been withdrawn with immediate effect.
With that singular act, the flamboyant reign of Gbenga Oloyede as the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu has unceremoniously been brought to an end.
The stool of the Apetumodu has now been declared vacant, setting the stage for the emergence of a new monarch who will inherit a throne bruised and dragged in the mud by controversy.
What makes the story even more tragic is the scale of the fall. Before disgrace came calling, Oba Oloyede was the picture of success. Wealthy, stylish and generous. He was admired by many and courted by high society. He carried himself with the aura of a king who had it all.
Money flowed, glamour followed and admirers gathered. Yet, as it often happens in stories of power, the glitter concealed gathering storms.
Then came that ill-fated trip to America — the journey from which he would return not in triumph, but in chains. Today, the crown is gone, the throne empty, and a once-celebrated monarch now stands as a cautionary tale of how quickly fortune can bow before fate.
-
Politics2 years ago
13 Ondo Assembly Members Disown Endorsement of Aiyedatiwa
-
Politics2 years ago
APC Group, Ondo Govt, Quarrel Over Money for Endorsement
-
Trending News5 years agoStop unsavoury, inciting statements – DSS warns
-
Others4 years agoAdron Homes Celebrates 10 Years Of Housing Excellence
-
Humanity4 years agoPresident Buhari Commiserates With Ambassador Maureen Tamuno Over The Loss Of Her Father
-
Others7 years agoEX- CUSTOMS BOSS, IBRAHIM MERA’S DWINDLING FAME
-
Business2 years agoBigi Carbonated Soft Drinks Treats 40 Consumers to an Epic Easter Movie Hangout
-
Business2 years agoWema Bank Shines at Global SME Finance Forum Conference Awards 2024 …Awarded: • SME Financier of the Year (Africa) • Platinum Award for Best Financier for Women Entrepreneurs (Africa)