Admin I Tuesday, June 24, 2025
IKEJA, Lagos – It was like another tug of war on Tuesday when the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele questioned authenticity of the evidence tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and sought a forensic audit of the evidence.
Speaking through his lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, Emefiele questioned authenticity of Whatsapp messages tendered by the commission in his alleged $4.5 billion fraud.
Emefiele thus sought permission from Justice Rahman Oshodi for a forensic analysis of a mobile phone used to extract WhatsApp messages presented as evidence in court.
Emefiele’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo SAN, said the expert will examine both the phone—identified as an “iPhone 2”—and the printed conversations.
The prosecution counsel, C. C. Okezie, in her arguments told the court that by virtue of the rules of evidence and practice, once evidence of this nature is before the court as Exhibit, the Court becomes the custodian and retains same until the conclusion of trial.
She stated further that, the defence counsel has not stated the name of the lab, their expertise and experience of the personnel that will forensically examine the device.
“What is more, the Defendants ought to have presented options of forensic labs stating their competence for the Court to pick from, we pray the court to nominate the Director of forensic department in the commission to select a lab for the exercise”.
“In making the order the Court should direct that the examination be conducted in the presence of a person with such vast experience and knowledge to be nominated by the prosecution”.
“Also there must be proper chain of custody to ensure the device isn’t tampered with, and is returned to the court upon conclusion of the exercise”
“The duration of the forensic exercise was also not stated in their application”.
Emefiele, alongside his co-accused Henry Omoile, faces a 19-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on allegations of money laundering and fraud totalling $4.5 billion and ₦2.8 billion.
The court adjourned the matter till September 15, 2025 for ruling on this application.
