Emefiele to Face Fresh Digital Evidence in Lagos Court Thursday

Former Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele is set to face a ruling on Thursday concerning the admissibility of new digital evidence in his ongoing trial, as the Lagos State Special Offences Court considers key WhatsApp messages and mobile phone records submitted by the prosecution

Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja, will deliver a decision on whether critical digital exhibits presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) can be admitted. These include WhatsApp chats extracted from a phone linked to a former Executive Assistant, John Adetola. 

The prosecution’s eighth witness, Alvan Gurumnaan, an EFCC operative, testified that code words such as “PCS” (interpreted as units of $1,000) appeared in the chat logs. One conversation allegedly directed the delivery of $400,000 “for Oga” (boss).  The chats reportedly involved intermediaries like Eric Eboh. 

Defense counsel challenged the authenticity and certification of the documents, arguing they were generated electronically and not by the phone owner, and thus require certification under the Evidence Act.  EFCC’s lawyers countered that the documents do not need additional certification, asserting that they belong to the prosecuting agency and were duly authenticated by testimony. 

In related developments, the forensic examination of a seized phone has reportedly stalled amid disagreements between defense and prosecution over how to conduct the analysis.  Defense lawyers have alleged obstruction by the prosecution, while the EFCC denies blocking access to data, stating that procedural standards must be followed. 

Emefiele is facing a 19-count charge including corruption, gratification, and abuse of office. His co-defendant, Henry Omoile, also faces related charges. Both have pleaded not guilty.  The court adjourned until Thursday to issue the ruling on evidence admissibility.