COURT ACCEPTS NEWSPAPER PUBLICATIONS AS EVIDENCE IN EMEFIELE’S TRIAL

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By:Tajudeen Aminat

An Abuja High Court on Monday admitted five newspaper publications along with certification receipts from the National Library of Nigeria as evidence in the ongoing trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

Justice Maryanne Anenih admitted and marked the documents after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) tendered them through a subpoenaed witness, Jegede Oluwasegun, an official of the National Library of Nigeria.

Emefiele is standing trial on a four-count charge bordering on disobedience to lawful directives and acts alleged to have caused injury to the public. The EFCC said the offence contravenes Section 123 of the Penal Code, Cap 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990, and is punishable under the same law.

He has, however, pleaded not guilty.

During Monday’s resumed hearing, the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), led the eighth prosecution witness in evidence, where he detailed his official duties.

The prosecution later tendered copies of The Punch, This Day, Vanguard, Daily Sun, and The Nation newspapers, alongside their certification receipts.

Defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), did not object to the documents.

Under cross-examination, the witness confirmed he was not the author of the newspaper contents, stating that his role was limited to certifying them.

“What I do is to certify the newspapers; I cannot 100 per cent confirm the contents are correct because I am not the author,” he told the court.

Following this, the defence requested a specific This Day publication dated January 31, 2023, which was produced and confirmed by the witness.

With no objection from the prosecution, the court admitted the document and marked it as an exhibit.

Justice Anenih subsequently adjourned the case to Wednesday for continuation of hearing.