A significant setback has occurred in the $4.5 billion fraud trial of Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, after a forensic examination of his phone and WhatsApp chats stalled due to disagreements over execution modalities. The development was disclosed at an Ikeja Special Offences Court on Tuesday.
Emefiele faces a 19‑count charge bordering on receiving gratification and corrupt demands, while his co‑defendant, Henry Omoile, is charged with three counts of unlawful acceptance of gifts by agents. The allegations involve $4.5 billion and ₦2.8 billion. The court had ordered a joint forensic examination by experts from both the prosecution and the defence to ensure a thorough investigation, but the process has been hampered by disputes between the parties.
Emefiele’s lead counsel, Olalekan Ojo, claimed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) obstructed the court‑ordered forensic process on two occasions. First, the EFCC asserted that the phone could not be fully exposed to the joint team; later, it failed to produce the device when Apple’s expert requested it. The defence has urged the court to issue a fresh directive to guarantee unrestricted access to the phone and WhatsApp chats.
Conversely, the prosecution has raised concerns about the integrity of the data, citing the risk of auto‑syncing and potential compromise of authenticity. The court acknowledged the defence’s worries and directed the prosecution to file the forensic report within 24 hours. The trial has been adjourned until 8 October for continuation.
The outcome of this high‑profile case is being closely watched, given the large sums involved and the Central Bank of Nigeria’s recent history of corruption scandals. The trial of Godwin Emefiele is viewed as a test of the country’s commitment to fighting corruption and holding powerful officials accountable.
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