Justice Maryam Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on Thursday approved virtual testimonies for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witnesses in the trial of former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
The two witnesses, who live in the United Kingdom, were permitted to testify virtually by the judge after the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepio (SAN), applied orally to the court.
Oyedepo had informed the court of his intention to call two additional witnesses that would testify in the trial.
The counsel said he filed additional proof of evidence that would be placed before the court to substantiate the charges.
Emefiele’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), objected to the new move by the commission to make the request informally.
He argued that FCT High Court was a court of records.
Ojo argued that EFCC ought to have filed a formal application stating clearly names of the two witnesses.
The counsel’s attention was however drawn to the application for additional proof of evidence where the names of the two witnesses were mentioned and reasons for adoption of virtual evidence were given.
Justice Anenih subsequently granted the commission’s request for virtual testimony of the two witnesses.
The EFCC in 2023 arraigned Emefiele for alleged abuse of office and other offences during his tenure as CBN governor
