Emefiele’s application challenging jurisdiction dismissed by court

Godwin Emefiele

On Wednesday, an Ikeja Special Offences court dismissed the application filed by the former Governor of the Central of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele challenging the jurisdiction to hear his case.

Emefiele is facing a 26-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged misuse of office, resulting in losses of $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion.

Giving his ruling on Wednesday, Justice Rahman Oshodi held that the court had jurisdiction to try Emefiele’s case.

Oshodi thereafter dismissed the embattled ex-CBN governor’s application, stating that EFCC had established a territorial jurisdiction on counts eight to 26.

He added that several facts in the proof of evidence had been attached to the case file.

However, the court struck out counts one to four of the charge which bordered on abuse of office.

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

“The objection challenging the court’s territorial jurisdiction over count eight to 26 fails and is hereby dismissed.

“The prosecution has established sufficient territorial nexus in this case,” Oshodi stated.

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