Court Sets September 15 for Ruling on Emefiele’s Forensic Evidence Request in $4.5 Billion Fraud Case

 The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled September 15, 2025, for a ruling on a request by former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele for forensic analysis of evidence in his trial for an alleged $4.5 billion fraud. 

Justice Emeka Nwite fixed the date on June 23 after hearing arguments from Emefiele’s counsel, Femi Falana, SAN, who sought to verify financial documents linked to 20 charges, including money laundering and abuse of office.

Emefiele, arrested in June 2023 by the EFCC, is accused of diverting $4.5 billion in public funds through fictitious contracts and forex manipulations between 2019 and 2023. Falana argued that forensic analysis of bank records and digital transactions is critical to proving Emefiele’s innocence, citing discrepancies in EFCC’s evidence, including unsigned contracts. The prosecution, led by Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, opposed the request, arguing it would delay proceedings, with 15 witnesses already testifying, per The Sun. The EFCC alleges Emefiele’s actions contributed to Nigeria’s 2020 forex crisis, costing the CBN $2 billion in reserves.

The trial, ongoing since August 2023, has drawn public attention due to Emefiele’s high-profile tenure as CBN governor (2014-2023), during which he introduced the naira redesign policy. Supporters, including some APC chieftains, claim the charges are politically motivated, while critics point to Nigeria’s 30% inflation rate in 2025 as evidence of mismanagement. The court’s ruling could set a precedent for forensic evidence in high-profile corruption cases, with Falana citing global standards like the UK’s FCA protocols. Emefiele remains in custody, with bail applications denied thrice since 2023.