Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, has granted the application of embattled former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to engage forensic experts to examine WhatsApp conversations and a mobile device marked “iPhone 12” that were tendered as evidence in his ongoing trial.

Emefiele, alongside his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, is facing a 19-count charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged money laundering and fraud totaling $4.5 billion and ₦2.8 billion.

Delivering the ruling on Tuesday, Justice Oshodi held that the defence was entitled to conduct an independent forensic review, provided safeguards were put in place to maintain the integrity of the evidence.

The judge ordered that the inspection must be carried out in the presence of representatives of all parties, with each party permitted no more than one lawyer and one forensic expert. He further directed that the process be supervised by a court representative and conducted between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on September 24 and 26, 2025.

Justice Oshodi also ruled that the chain of custody of Exhibit E (the iPhone 12) must be preserved, stressing that the exhibit would remain in the court’s custody at all times.

At the previous sitting, Emefiele’s lead counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, had urged the court to allow an independent forensic analysis of the device and the extracted WhatsApp messages presented as exhibits. “The defence is seeking the leave of the court to call a forensic expert to examine both the mobile device and printed conversations allegedly linked to the defendants,” he said.

However, EFCC counsel C. C. Okezie opposed the request, arguing that exhibits admitted during trial were under the custody of the court and should remain in their original form until conclusion of the matter.

At Tuesday’s proceedings, Okezie again appeared for the EFCC, while Kunle Gbolahan held the brief of Ojo for the first defendant, and Kazeem Gbadamosi, SAN, represented the second defendant.

The matter was adjourned until October 7, 2025, for continuation of trial.

______________________________________________________________________ Explore Nigeria’s Constitutional System — 17 Chapters, 924 Pages Of Insight By Prof. Hagler Sunny Okorie
“Constitutional Law and Constitutionalism in Nigeria” By Prof. Hagler Sunny Okorie
Call to Order Your Copy: 📞 0803 766 7945 | 0802 863 6615 | 0803 225 3813 ✉️ haglersoco@gmail.com 🏢 Winners Chambers, 135 Ehi Road, Aba, Abia State ______________________________________________________________________ NBA Accredited Service Provider, "Momodu B. Law Publishing" Unveils Landmark Law Publications And Services — Order Now! The publishing firm has produced an impressive catalogue of authoritative legal texts authored by its proprietor, Basil Momodu, Esq., For inquiries, contact: 📧 momodulawpublishing@yahoo.com 📞 07051822705 ______________________________________________________________________ “Timely And Groundbreaking” — Babalola, Nnawuchi Release Casebook On Privacy & Data Protection In NigeriaA timely new publication, Casebook on Privacy & Data Protection in Nigeria, co-authored by Olumide Babalola and Uchenna Nnawuchi,📘Casebook on Privacy & Data Protection in Nigeria is now available on Amazon:https://a.co/d/8TmFZrd ______________________________________________________________________ Alexander Payne Co. Law Reports

Contact & Orders 📞 0704 444 4777 | 0704 444 4999 | 0818 199 9888 🌐 www.alexandernigeria.com

______________________________________________________________________ Groundbreaking Guide For Lawyers: Adigwe Publishes ‘Artificial Intelligence For Lawyers’ With Free Research eBook Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACiarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria. How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626 ______________________________________________________________________ [A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
“Evidence Act: Complete Annotation” by renowned legal experts Sanni & Etti.
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation ______________________________________________________________________ “Your Must-Have Legal Classic” — 225-Page Hardback Offering The Definitive Guide To Electoral Security In Nigeria And The U.S. Edited by Dr. Akin Olawale Oluwadayisi, Ph.D; ACIArb, FIPDM, Notary Public, Awi Boluwaji, and Olumide Awoyemi, LL.M, Price: ₦20,000 or $20 per copy Order Your Copy Now:📧 Email: benakollegalclassics@gmail.com,📱 WhatsApp: 07038211889, 📞 Voice Call: 07065830466 | +2347038211889 ______________________________________________________________________