A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday awarded N500,000 in costs against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for delaying the trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele.
The trial judge, Hamza Muazu, imposed the cost after the prosecution failed to produce its witness at the resumed hearing.
Justice Muazu, while granting what he described as a final adjournment, warned the prosecution to ensure the attendance of its witnesses at the next sitting.
Emefiele is standing trial on a 20-count amended charge marked FCT/HC/CR/577/2023, bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust, forgery, abuse of office, conspiracy, and obtaining money by false pretence.
He was, among others, accused of allegedly obtaining $6.23m under the guise of funding international election observers for the 2023 general election. He is also accused of conferring corrupt advantages on two firms—April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd.
At the proceedings, prosecuting counsel, Abba Mohammed (SAN), told the court that the prosecution’s witness, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Elohor Edwin Okpoziakeo, was absent despite being duly notified.
Mohammed explained that the witness was attending a separate matter at the Gwagwalada Division of the FCT High Court involving a personal case against a commercial bank, where a garnishee order had been placed on his account.
(Punch)
