The Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja on Friday granted a request from the defence side to recall the first prosecution witness in a trial involving former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele and his co-defendant.
Mr Emefiele is standing trial over abuse of office and alleged $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion fraud which he allegedly perpetrated while in office. He has denied the charges.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that when the case was called, the lawyer to Mr Emefiele’s co-defendant, Kazeem Gbadamosi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), notified the court of a motion on notice dated 6 May.
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Mr Gbadamosi subsequently sought the indulgence of the court to recall the first prosecution witness, Monday Osazuwa.
NAN reports that Mr Osazuwa had on 12 April testified how the embattled governor, on different occasions, allegedly directed him to collect $3 million cash in tranches on his behalf.
The trial judge, Rahman Oshodi, granted the application of Mr Gbadamosi to recall the witness, following no objections from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, also a SAN.
He said: “In the motion on notice dated 6 May and filed on 7 May, the second defence counsel seeks an order to recall the first prosecution witness (PW1).
“The second defence counsel seeks to further cross-examine PW1 on matters listed in paragraph 4(D) on the affidavit in support of the application.
“The recall was also premised on nine grounds and the six paragraph affidavits filed in support of the application filed on 7 May.
“The prosecution did not file a rebuttal and I hereby grant the application.”