An Ikeja Special Offences Court has scheduled January 7, 2025, to rule on an application by the embattled former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear his case.
Mr Emefiele is facing trial for alleged abuse of office and fraud involving $4.5 billion and ₦2.8 billion. His co-defendant Henry Omoile is being prosecuted on a three-count charge of unlawful acceptance of gifts by agents.
The ruling date was set on Thursday by Justice Rahman Oshodi after hearing arguments from Emefiele’s counsel Olalekan Ojo (SAN) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).
Ojo argued that the Ikeja court lacked territorial jurisdiction to hear the case, claiming the alleged offences fell outside Lagos State’s geographical and legislative authority.
He emphasised inter alia that the charges under Section 73 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2011, could not apply to alleged acts of abuse of office committed outside the state.
Ojo urged the court to strike out counts one to four of the amended 18-count charge filed on April 4, 2024, asserting the offences occurred outside Lagos’ territorial reach.
Opposing the application, EFCC counsel Oyedepo argued that the court had jurisdiction over the case, as the alleged crimes were economic and financial in nature and occurred within Lagos.
