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Emefiele: Court fixes January 7 for ruling on jurisdiction

Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos Special Offences Court, Ikeja, on Thursday, fixed January 7, 2025, for ruling on the application filed by the ex-Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, challenging its jurisdiction to adjudicate in his alleged criminal case.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Emefiele for alleged abuse of office and $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion fraud.
His co-defendant, Henry Omoile, was docked on a three-count charge for alleged unlawful acceptance of gifts by agents.
The judge reserved the ruling after hearing arguments from the EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) and his defence counterpart, Mr. Olalekan Ojo (SAN).
Ojo had in his application, argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case in Lagos.
He contended that the alleged offences, including abuse of office, fell outside the court’s territorial reach.
Ojo said the charge violated Section 36(12) of the Constitution, and insisted that the actions Emefiele was accused of were not legally recognised offences.
READ ALSO: Emefiele linked to massive 753 Abuja apartments seizure
He added that the Lagos State House of Assembly did not have legislative authority over matters on the Exclusive Legislative List.
Ojo, therefore, said Section 73 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011 under which counts one to four were filed, could not apply extra-territorially to any alleged abuse of office by Emefiele.
He urged the court to strike out counts one to four of the 18 amended information filed on April 4 because the offences occurred outside the court’s jurisdiction.
Oyedepo in his counter affidavits argued that the court had the authority to hear the case.
He argued that the alleged crimes were economic and financial and fell within the jurisdiction of EFCC.
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