Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele

$6,230,000.00
Amount allegedly defrauded

Case Summary
The accused was alleged to have knowingly obtained by false pretence, the said sum, by falsely representing that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation vide a letter dated 26th January, 2023 with Ref No. SGFF.43/L.01/201 requested the Central Bank of Nigeria to provide a contingent logistic advance in the above said sum in line with Mr. President`s directive, a representation he knew to be false.

505
Day(s) since arraignment

Case Update
The trial judge, while delivering ruling in a motion on notice filed by the defendant to object to the additional proof of evidence brought by the prosecution, held that the prosecution had on February 12, 2024, first filed additional proof of evidence against the defendant to accommodate the evidence of a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha and one Bamayi Haruna Mairiga. The judge noted that the charge against the defendant was filed since August 14, 2023, and his plea taking on November 16, 2023, and that the action of the prosecution had a resemblance of denial of fair trial because the defendant was not confronted with the new evidence during the investigation as required by law. The judge further noted this amounted to trial by ambush and a clear case of fishing for evidence in the trial that commenced on November 28, 2023. In the ruling, the judge agreed that allowing the additional proof of evidence after the charge had been amended severally was prejudicial to the defendant, as his right to fair hearing was being breached. The judge, however, declined to strike out the charge for being a product of an incomplete or ongoing investigation and, therefore, speculative as claimed by the defendant because both the defendant and the prosecution had joined issues with each other and the trial has gone far.

Hon. Justice Hamza Mu'azu
FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja

ACJA/ACJL Compliance
(violated)