The Special Offences Court in Lagos has rejected a request to halt the corruption trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele. On Wednesday, February 26, Justice Rahman Oshodi dismissed the application for him to recuse himself, stating that the allegations of bias against him were unfounded.
In his ruling, Justice Oshodi referred to a 2013 decision by Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, noting that claims of judicial bias are typically insufficient to disqualify a judge unless the bias is personal or based on extrajudicial factors. He also cited other Supreme Court precedents to reinforce his position, ruling that the application for recusal lacked merit.
Emefiele’s legal team, led by Olalekan Ojo (SAN), had argued that the judge’s decision to allow leading questions during the trial made it impossible for the defense to cross-examine the witness fairly. However, the prosecution, represented by Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), opposed the motion, labeling it as without merit.
Additionally, Justice Oshodi granted Emefiele permission to appeal the court’s previous decision regarding its jurisdiction over the case. The trial is now scheduled to resume on May 26, 2025.