April 29, (THEWILL) – Former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has challenged the constitutional jurisdiction of the Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, to hear the charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Emefiele along with Henry Isioma-Omole is being tried by the EFCC for alleged abuse of office and corruption fraud. They had pleaded not guilty to the 26-count charge on April 8.
At the resumed hearing on Monday, Emefiele’s lead counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), challenged the validity of the charges based on jurisdiction and constitutionality, urging the court to hear his preliminary objection first before progressing further with the trial.
Contending that Emefiele can not be prosecuted in any State High Court, Ojo (SAN), argued that counts 1-4 in the charge sheet are unconstitutional; a position also held by the second defendant’s counsel, Kazeem Gbadamosi (SAN).
But In response, EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) objected to the issues canvassed by the defendants. He added that the intention of section 396 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act of 2015, and section 374 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos state was to prevent undue delay of criminal trials.
Meanwhile, Justice Rahmon Oshodi has deferred until the end of the trial, ruling on the application.
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