Godwin Emefiele, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), who is currently under suspension, contested on Monday the Ikeja Special Offenses Court’s authority to hear the allegations of official abuse and multibillion-dollar fraud made against him.
Mr. Kazeem Gbadamosi (SAN) represented Henry Isioma-Omoil, the former CBN governor co-defendant, while Mr. Olalekan Ojo (SAN), who led other counsel, stood on behalf of Emefiele.
Ojo claimed that the court lacked the constitutional jurisprudence to consider the accusation against Emefiele in his move on notice dated April 24.
He said: “There is need to consider jurisdictional objections before allowing this case.
“This defendant ought not to be arraigned before this court on constitutional grounds.
“We are saying that charges against the first defendant are unconstitutional.
“I urge your lordship to toe the part of legality and constitutionality to determine this application.”
However, the counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, or EFCC, led by Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, urged the court to reject the first defendant’s application, arguing that doing so would only serve to postpone justice.
