Court Allows EFCC To Play Digital Evidence In Emefiele’s Naira Redesign Trial
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on Tuesday granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) leave to play a compact disc as evidence in the trial of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
Emefiele is being prosecuted before Justice Maryanne Anenih by the EFCC on a six-count charge, in which he is accused, among other things, of unlawfully printing new naira notes (naira redesign).
Justice Anenih granted the EFCC leave after the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, made the request.
At the resumed hearing, Oyedepo told the court that the business of the day was the continuation of evidence from their seventh witness, PW7.
He, however, said there were intervening developments.
“My attention was drawn to a motion filed by the defendant’s counsel yesterday, although I learned it was served on the EFCC on April 25.
“The request in that motion will have an impact on the evidence of the witness. In view of that, I communicated with the defendant’s counsel so that we can determine how to proceed,” he said.
He informed the court that he had filed a motion relating to a compact disc, which had already been sent to the defence.
He added that the prosecution could only play it after obtaining the court’s leave.
He therefore sought an adjournment to allow both parties to review the issues.
Responding, the defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, informed the court that on April 24, the defence had filed a disclosure motion requesting certain facilities.
He said the filing of the motion should not prevent the evidence of PW7 from proceeding, as the motion stated that the facilities would be used during the trial.
“The facilities mentioned were those the prosecution claimed to have provided at the inception of the case,” he said.
He added that, to avoid the day being wasted, he would prefer that the evidence of PW7 continue.
Ojo lamented that the defence spends about N4 million attending the trial from outside the jurisdiction (Lagos).
He, however, left the decision to the discretion of the court.
After listening to both parties, Justice Anenih granted the EFCC leave to play the digital evidence.
“Application for adjournment is granted in the interest of justice to allow continuation of the digital and oral evidence of PW7.
“Trial will continue on the previously scheduled dates, May 6 and 22,” the judge ruled.
