$4.5B Fraud Trial Twist: Court Grants Emefiele Green Light To Hire Forensic Experts

The Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja on Monday granted former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, approval to engage forensic experts to scrutinize WhatsApp messages and a mobile phone identified as “iPhone 2” admitted as evidence in his ongoing fraud trial.

Justice Rahman Oshodi delivered the ruling following an application by Emefiele’s lead counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), who requested leave for an independent forensic examination of the device and the extracted chats already tendered before the court.

According to Ojo, “The defence is seeking the court’s leave to call in a forensic expert to assess both the mobile device and the printed WhatsApp conversations allegedly linked to the defendants.”

Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, are standing trial on 19 counts of abuse of office, gratification, corruption, and fraudulent property transactions totaling $4.5 billion and ₦2.8 billion, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

However, EFCC’s counsel, Chineye Okezie, opposed the application, insisting that the admitted exhibits must remain in the court’s custody until the trial concludes. She further faulted the defence for failing to disclose the name of the forensic laboratory or the qualifications of the experts to be hired. Okezie urged the court to ensure that the EFCC’s Director of Forensic Department selects the lab, with a prosecution-nominated observer present to maintain the chain of custody.

Ruling on the matter, Justice Oshodi ordered that the forensic inspection be conducted in the presence of representatives from all parties, with each side permitted to present one lawyer and one expert. A court officer will also supervise the process, scheduled for September 24 and 26, 2025, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The judge further stressed that Exhibit E (iPhone 2) must remain in the court’s custody throughout the process to preserve its integrity.

The trial was adjourned to October 7 and 8, 2025, for continuation, and October 9, 2025, for further hearing.