The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was on Tuesday fined N500,000 by a Federal Capital Territory High Court for delays in the trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor Godwin Emefiele.
The trial judge Hamza Muazu imposed the fine after the EFCC failed to produce a prosecution witness in court.
Mr Emefiele is facing charges including criminal breach of trust, forgery, abuse of office, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence and obtaining money by false pretence.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The EFCC alleged that Emefiele obtained $6,230,000 meant for international election observers for the 2023 general election.
The agency also accused him of conferring advantages on two companies, April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd.
At Tuesday’s hearing, EFCC counsel A.O. Mohammed told the court that the next witness, Deputy Commissioner of Police Edwin Okpoziakeo, could not attend the proceedings.
He said the witness had been notified but was unavailable due to administrative procedures.
Counsel Mohammed said he was directed by the police headquarters to write to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to request the officer’s presence in court and that he had done so.
He added that the witness later informed him that he had a personal matter in another court in Gwagwalada where his bank account was under a garnishee order.
The prosecution then asked the court for an adjournment to enable it present the witness.
Counsel to Emefiele, Matthew Burkaa opposed the request.
He referred the court to Section 396(3) and (4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which limits the number of adjournments available to each party.
He said the EFCC had already been granted eight adjournments since the case began.
Counsel Burkaa also noted that the prosecution had earlier requested an accelerated hearing and asked the court not to grant further adjournments.
In his ruling, Justice Muazu said the court agreed with the defence but noted that it still had the discretion to grant an adjournment in the interest of justice.
He said an investigator should not be excluded from testifying in the case.
The judge, however, fined the EFCC N500,000 for delaying the trial despite the order for accelerated hearing.
The case was adjourned until April 27 for continuation of trial.
