$6.23m Fraud Trial: EFCC Urges Court to Reject Emefiele’s No-Case Request
ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has formally asked the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court to reject the no-case submission entered by the immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, insisting he has a case to answer.
Emefiele is currently facing an amended 20-count criminal charge involving alleged criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy, abuse of office, and the fraudulent procurement of $6.23 million under the guise of funding international election observers.
Appearing before Justice Hamza Muazu, the prosecuting counsel and Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), argued that the anti-graft agency has successfully established a formidable prima facie case warranting a defense from the former apex bank governor.
Oyedepo explained to the court that evaluating a no-case submission focuses strictly on whether enough evidence exists to require an explanation from the defendant, rather than testing final guilt.
”The purpose of a no-case submission is to determine whether the prosecution has established a prima facie case, not to determine the defendant’s guilt or evaluate the credibility of witnesses at that stage.
”Calling on Emefiele to enter his defence would not amount to asking him to prove his innocence, but would give him the opportunity to answer the issues raised by the prosecution’s evidence,” Oyedepo stated.
The prosecution further drew attention to suspicious contract awards involving April1616 Investment Limited, noting that records showed the company received 45 consecutive contracts only after Emefiele took charge at the central bank.
Conversely, defense counsel Matthew Burkaa (SAN) urged the court to discharge and acquit his client, maintaining that the prosecution failed to build a legally sustainable case.
Justice Muazu has reserved ruling on the application.
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