Court Approves Emefiele’s Bid To Examine WhatsApp Evidence In Alleged $4.5bn Fraud Cas.
A Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja on Monday granted former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, permission to subject WhatsApp chats and a mobile phone admitted as evidence in his ongoing fraud trial to forensic examination.
The trial Judge, Justice Rahman Oshodi delivered the ruling on Monday in the case where Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, are standing trial on 19 counts of corruption, bribery, gratification through agents, abuse of office, and fraudulent property transactions involving $4.5 billion and ₦2.8 billion.
The charges were brought against the defendants by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Emefiele’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, had earlier moved an application asking the court to allow an independent forensic expert to review the device—an “iPhone 2 and the WhatsApp conversations allegedly linked to the defendants.
He argued that the defence was entitled to verify the authenticity of the messages presented as exhibits in the proceedings.
The EFCC, represented by counsel C. C. Okezie, strongly opposed the application. Okezie contended that exhibits once tendered are under the court’s custody and must remain intact until judgment is delivered.
She further noted that the defence had not disclosed the name of the forensic laboratory or the qualifications of the specialists it intended to engage.
To ensure transparency, the prosecution suggested that the EFCC’s Director of Forensic Department be tasked with identifying the laboratory and that the exercise be monitored by its nominated officer to preserve the chain of custody.
A Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja on Monday granted former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, permission to subject WhatsApp chats and a mobile phone admitted as evidence in his ongoing fraud trial to forensic examination.
The trial Judge, Justice Rahman Oshodi delivered the ruling on Monday in the case where Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, are standing trial on 19 counts of corruption, bribery, gratification through agents, abuse of office, and fraudulent property transactions involving $4.5 billion and ₦2.8 billion.
The charges were brought against the defendants by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Emefiele’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, had earlier moved an application asking the court to allow an independent forensic expert to review the device—an “iPhone 2 and the WhatsApp conversations allegedly linked to the defendants.
He argued that the defence was entitled to verify the authenticity of the messages presented as exhibits in the proceedings.
The EFCC, represented by counsel C. C. Okezie, strongly opposed the application. Okezie contended that exhibits once tendered are under the court’s custody and must remain intact until judgment is delivered.
She further noted that the defence had not disclosed the name of the forensic laboratory or the qualifications of the specialists it intended to engage.
To ensure transparency, the prosecution suggested that the EFCC’s Director of Forensic Department be tasked with identifying the laboratory and that the exercise be monitored by its nominated officer to preserve the chain of custody.
Court Approves Emefiele’s Bid To Examine WhatsApp Evidence In Alleged $4.5bn Fraud Cas.
A Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja on Monday granted former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, permission to subject WhatsApp chats and a mobile phone admitted as evidence in his ongoing fraud trial to forensic examination.
The trial Judge, Justice Rahman Oshodi delivered the ruling on Monday in the case where Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, are standing trial on 19 counts of corruption, bribery, gratification through agents, abuse of office, and fraudulent property transactions involving $4.5 billion and ₦2.8 billion.
The charges were brought against the defendants by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Emefiele’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, had earlier moved an application asking the court to allow an independent forensic expert to review the device—an “iPhone 2 and the WhatsApp conversations allegedly linked to the defendants.
He argued that the defence was entitled to verify the authenticity of the messages presented as exhibits in the proceedings.
The EFCC, represented by counsel C. C. Okezie, strongly opposed the application. Okezie contended that exhibits once tendered are under the court’s custody and must remain intact until judgment is delivered.
She further noted that the defence had not disclosed the name of the forensic laboratory or the qualifications of the specialists it intended to engage.
To ensure transparency, the prosecution suggested that the EFCC’s Director of Forensic Department be tasked with identifying the laboratory and that the exercise be monitored by its nominated officer to preserve the chain of custody.
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