By John Umeh
The trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, took a dramatic turn on Thursday as the Ikeja Special Offences Court admitted WhatsApp conversations and mobile phones as key evidence in the alleged $4.5 billion fraud case against him.
Justice Rahman Oshodi dismissed strong objections from Emefiele’s defence team and ruled that the WhatsApp chats, tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), would stand as Exhibit G. Several other documents and mobile devices linked to the investigation were also admitted as exhibits.
Emefiele, who is facing a 19-count charge of gratification, corrupt demands, and abuse of office, is standing trial alongside his associate, Henry Omoile, who faces a separate three-count charge of unlawful acceptance of gifts.
Testifying in court, EFCC investigator Alvan Grumnaan revealed that WhatsApp exchanges between Omoile and another individual showed instructions to deliver $400,000 to “oga” (Emefiele). According to the testimony, CBN contractor Victor Oyedua admitted to giving Ikechukwu-Ayoh, Emefiele’s aide, a total of $600,000, which was allegedly delivered to the former CBN governor in his Lagos office.
The EFCC further tendered an official letter from a contractor to the commission, admitted as Exhibit H, and a smartphone linked to the chats, admitted as Exhibit I.
However, Emefiele’s lawyers, led by Senior Advocates Olalekan Ojo and Kazeem Gbadamosi, opposed the admissibility of the documents, arguing they were uncertified and unreliable. They also claimed Omoile’s statements were made under duress.
Justice Oshodi overruled the defence and maintained that the evidence would stand, stressing that the case must move forward without unnecessary delay.
The court adjourned proceedings to November 21 for a forensic inspection report and to December 2 for a trial-within-trial to determine the voluntariness of the defendants’ statements.
