Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has rejected a request to withdraw from the ongoing trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele. The judge ruled that the claims of bias made by the defence lacked evidence and did not justify his removal from the case.
The request for recusal was made by Emefiele’s defence team, led by Olalekan Ojo, during Monday’s court session. Ojo argued that the judge’s previous rulings suggested a possible bias against his client. However, Justice Oshodi, in his decision on Wednesday, noted that there was no factual basis to support the claim that he could not deliver a fair judgment.
The prosecution, represented by Rotimi Oyedepo of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), strongly opposed the request, stating that the court proceedings had been conducted fairly. Oyedepo maintained that the defence had not provided any solid reason why the judge should step down from the case.
Emefiele, who was arrested and charged by the EFCC, is facing multiple allegations, including abuse of office and financial misconduct during his tenure as the head of Nigeria’s apex bank. His trial has attracted significant public attention, with debates over the fairness of the judicial process and the role of the government in the case.
