In a recent development, Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has rejected a request for his withdrawal from the trial of a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele. The defense team, led by Olalekan Ojo, had requested the judge to step down, citing concerns of potential bias based on previous rulings. During the proceedings, the seventh prosecution witness testified about delivering $400,000 to Emefiele. The prosecution also aimed to authenticate WhatsApp messages allegedly retrieved from a phone linked to Emefiele’s associate.
Despite objections from the defense regarding the admissibility of the document as evidence, Justice Oshodi allowed the witness to reference it and postponed the ruling on his potential withdrawal until a later date. Following this, Ojo insisted on the judge’s recusal, emphasizing the importance of impartiality in the case. The judge set a new date to finalize the decision on this matter.
After careful consideration, Justice Oshodi concluded that the defense’s claims of bias lacked substantial evidence, leading to the dismissal of the recusal application. Emefiele faces charges related to misconduct, bribery, and corrupt practices, as filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Initially facing 22 charges, the court dropped four counts concerning abuse of office, retaining jurisdiction over the remaining allegations.