Justice R.A. Oshodi of a Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, has adjourned till February 26, 2025 to deliver a ruling on an application by a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, asking the trial judge to recuse himself alleging bias.
Emefiele is standing trial on a 19-count charge bordering on receiving gratification and corrupt demand preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
His co-defendant, Henry Omoile, is facing a three-count charge bordering on unlawful acceptance of gifts by agents.
They have pleaded “not guilty” to the charges. At Monday’s proceedings, February 24, 2025, the prosecution led by Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, concluded the examination-in-chief of the seventh prosecution witness, PW7, Adetola John, but rather than proceed with the cross-examination, counsel for Emefiele, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, and Omoile’s counsel, Kazeem Gbadamosi, SAN asked the court to recuse itself on the allegation of bias.
The defence, refused to cross-examine the witness and through an oral application, unanimously asked the court to recuse itself alleging bias. Oyedepo, however, vehemently opposed the application.
He said: “In this proceeding, your lordship had numerous times rule against the prosecution and if defence is dissatisfied with the ruling of the court, they can appeal.
“I do not know what the defence is trying to prove by telling this court to recuse itself because in this case, there is no evidence of allegation of bias.
“This is a form of delay tactics and I urge your lordship to discountenance this application because a reasonable person in this court will realise that this application is meant to delay this trial.
“The court had earlier granted accelerated hearing in this case and I urge this honourable court to ask defence to cross-examine the witness.” Thereafter, Justice Oshodi adjourned to rule on the application.
