Emefiele’s $4.5 Billion Fraud Trial Faces Setback Over Mobile Phone Forensic Examination

Lagos, October 7, 2025 The trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, on charges of $4.5 billion fraud hit a snag yesterday as disagreements between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the defence stalled the forensic examination of a key mobile phone and WhatsApp chats.

At the resumed hearing before Justice Rahman Oshodi at the Lagos Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Mr. Olalekan Ojo (SAN), lead counsel for Emefiele, informed the court that the court-ordered joint forensic analysis of the mobile device referred to as “iPhone 2”bwas blocked by the EFCC. Despite scheduled appointments on September 24 and 25, 2025, Ojo said the EFCC denied full access to the phone’s contents, contrary to the court’s directive.

“The first brick wall we faced was that the EFCC said the device cannot be exposed to the entire team,” Ojo stated. Even after clarification from the court registrar about the scope of the order, the EFCC reportedly withheld the device when requested by the defence’s Apple expert.

Ojo urged the court to issue a fresh order granting “unfettered access” to the mobile phone and its WhatsApp messages, stressing the importance of the forensic process in verifying the authenticity of evidence.

However, prosecution counsel Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) vehemently denied allegations of obstruction. He criticized the defence’s forensic expert for conducting an inadequate and potentially compromised examination, citing the lack of a physical laboratory and the use of online analysis, which posed risks to the integrity of the evidence.

Oyedepo warned that allowing unrestricted access could lead to tampering, as data on the device could auto-sync and alter the evidence. He added that the iPhone remains on flight mode to prevent such risks and assured the court of the EFCC’s commitment to transparency under proper forensic standards.

Despite the dispute, both defence counsel requested a halt to further testimony pending completion of the forensic review, emphasizing that the WhatsApp messages were central to their defence strategy.

Justice Oshodi acknowledged these concerns but allowed the EFCC witness to continue testifying, noting that the witness had traveled from Abuja for the trial. He directed the prosecution to file its forensic report within 24 hours and ordered both parties to adopt electronic service of court documents to avoid further delays.

Emefiele faces 19 counts including gratification, corrupt practices, and abuse of office, while co-defendant Henry Omoile is charged with three counts of unlawful acceptance of gifts. Both have pleaded not guilty.

During the hearing, EFCC operative Alvan Gurumnaan presented evidence of multiple cash deliveries allegedly linked to Emefiele and associates, supported by WhatsApp communications and testimonies from staff at CBN and Zenith Bank. Several WhatsApp records were submitted as exhibits to substantiate claims of large foreign currency transactions managed through intermediaries.

The court adjourned the trial to October 8 and 9, 2025, for continuation of proceedings.