An Ikeja Special Offences Court has postponed ruling on an application filed by former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, who is seeking permission to conduct a forensic analysis on WhatsApp messages submitted as evidence in his ongoing trial over alleged multibillion-dollar fraud.
Emefiele, who is facing a 19-count charge of corruption and gratification involving a staggering $4.5 billion and ₦2.8 billion, appeared before Justice Rahman Oshodi on Tuesday. His co-defendant, Henry Omoile, is also standing trial on a separate three-count charge relating to the unlawful acceptance of gifts in the same case.
During the proceedings, Emefiele’s lead counsel, Mr. Olalekan Ojo (SAN), urged the court to allow an independent forensic expert to examine the mobile phone used to extract WhatsApp messages already tendered in evidence. He argued that this was necessary to verify the authenticity of the digital evidence and ensure a fair trial.
However, counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ms. Chigozie Okezie, strongly opposed the application. She maintained that once an exhibit is admitted in court, it becomes part of the court’s record and must be preserved in its original form until the conclusion of the trial. Okezie also criticized the defence for failing to specify the duration of the proposed forensic analysis, the identity of the forensic laboratory, and the qualifications of the personnel who would carry out the task.
In response, the EFCC proposed that if the court grants the forensic examination, it should be conducted under strict supervision. Okezie recommended that the court appoint the Director of the EFCC’s Forensic Department to choose an appropriate laboratory, and that the process be overseen by a prosecution-nominated expert with significant experience to maintain the integrity of the evidence and ensure a proper chain of custody.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter to September 15, 2025, when he will deliver his ruling on whether to allow the forensic review of the WhatsApp evidence.
