Court Slaps N500k Fine on Anti-Graft Agency Over Emefiele Trial Delays

​ABUJA – In a rare judicial reprimand of the nation’s primary anti-corruption agency, a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Maitama has imposed a N500,000 fine on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

​The fine, ordered by Justice Hamza Mu’azu on Tuesday, follows what the court described as “serial adjournments” sought by the prosecution in the high-profile trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

​Administrative Bottlenecks and Garnishee Orders

​The drama unfolded when the EFCC’s lead counsel, A.O. Mohammed, informed the court that the agency could not produce its 13th witness, DCP Edwin Okpoziakeo, a key investigator in the case.

​The prosecution cited a two-pronged excuse for the witness’s absence:

1. ​Bureaucratic Hurdles: The Police hierarchy reportedly demanded a formal letter to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) before allowing the officer to testify.
2. ​Personal Legal Troubles: The witness allegedly had to attend a separate court in Gwagwalada, where his personal bank account was facing a garnishee order.

​Defense Cites Legal Breach

​Emefiele’s lead counsel, Matthew Burkaa, SAN, vehemently opposed the request for another adjournment. Invoking Sections 396(3) and (4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, Burkaa argued that the EFCC had already exhausted its legal limit of five adjournments per party.

​”The prosecution has already been granted eight adjournments since the trial began,” Burkaa contended, noting that the EFCC itself had originally requested an accelerated hearing. He argued that the defendant should not be held hostage by the prosecution’s inability to coordinate its witnesses.

​The Court’s Verdict: A Costly Adjournment

​While Justice Mu’azu agreed that the witness—as an investigator—was too critical to the case to be “shut out” entirely, he ruled that the EFCC’s repeated delays could no longer go unpunished.

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​”The court will not deny the prosecution the opportunity in the interest of justice to present its final witness, but the delay must come with a cost,” the judge held.

​Justice Mu’azu subsequently ordered the EFCC to pay a N500,000 fine as a penalty for the stalled proceedings and adjourned the matter to April 27 and 28, 2026, for a “final” continuation of the trial.

​Background: The Case Against Emefiele

​Godwin Emefiele, who led the apex bank from 2014 to 2023, is currently battling a 20-count amended charge (FCT/HC/CR/577/2023). The allegations include:

• ​Procurement Fraud: Illegally awarding contracts for 43 vehicles valued at N1.2 billion between 2018 and 2020.
• ​Corruption: Conferring corrupt advantages on a CBN staff member, Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro, through a contract for 37 Toyota Hilux vehicles worth N854 million.
• ​False Pretenses: Allegedly obtaining $6.23 million under the guise of funding international election observers for the 2023 general elections.

​Emefiele has consistently pleaded “not guilty” to all counts and remains out on bail. The upcoming April hearings are expected to feature the EFCC’s final witness before the defense opens its case.