The Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, has fixed September 15, 2025, to rule on an application by former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, seeking a forensic examination of WhatsApp messages admitted as evidence in his ongoing fraud trial.
Emefiele, who is facing charges of alleged $4.5 billion and ₦2.8 billion fraud, filed the request through his counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), arguing that the authenticity of the digital messages presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must be verified.
Ojo asked the court to permit a forensic expert to examine the mobile device—an “iPhone 2″—used to extract the messages, as well as the printed chat logs.
“It is a critical element of our defence,” he told the court.
However, EFCC counsel, Chinenye Okezie, opposed the application, arguing that the defence had failed to meet procedural requirements. She noted that the defence provided no information about the forensic lab, timeline, or expert qualifications, and emphasized the importance of preserving the chain of custody.
“If the application is granted, the Commission’s Forensic Department should nominate an accredited lab,” she said, adding that the process must involve a prosecution-nominated expert to ensure transparency.
Justice Rahman Oshodi adjourned the ruling until September 15, after the court’s annual vacation.
Background
Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, are facing 19 counts of conspiracy, money laundering, and fraud.
At the last hearing on May 27, EFCC witness Alvan Gurumnaan testified that Emefiele allegedly received $17.1 million in cash over three years through a proxy. The Commission has submitted related documents as evidence, which Emefiele has now requested to be forensically reviewed.
