Alleged $2.1bn fraud: Court strikes out ‘abuse of office’ charge against Emefiele

A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, yesterday struck out four counts of alleged abuse of office charge brought against  the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. 

Justice Rahman Oshodi struck out the charge while ruling on Emefiele’s preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the  26-count $2.1 billion fraud allegation against him. 

In his ruling, Justice Oshodi held that allocation of foreign exchange without bid, which was the subject of counts 1-4 of the 26 count charges against Emefiele was not punishable under any law.

He said: “Allocation of foreign exchange without reason is not defined as an offense in any written law. The objection to counts one to four succeeds and is hereby struck out.”

The judge, however, held that the court has jurisdiction to try Emefiele on the other charges, citing relevant statutory and constitutional provisions.

He dismissed Emefiele’s application challenging the jurisdiction of the court and held that the EFCC had established a territorial jurisdictions on count eight to 26 with various facts in the proof of evidence attached with the case file before the court. 

The judge, thereafter, said the case should proceed to trial and adjourned until February 24, for continuation of trial.