The Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, has admitted a Certified True Copy (CTC) of a Supreme Court judgment as evidence in the ongoing trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, over an alleged $4.5 billion fraud.
Justice Rahman Oshodi admitted the document as Exhibit 10 on Friday, November 13, 2026, despite strong objections from the defence lawyers representing Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile.
Emefiele is facing a 19-count charge instituted by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), bordering on alleged receipt of gratification and corrupt demands during his tenure as CBN governor.
At the resumed proceedings, prosecution witness, Gurumnaan, continued his evidence-in-chief under examination by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.
Oyedepo, who appeared alongside other members of the prosecution team, tendered the certified Supreme Court judgment before the court.
However, defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, opposed its admission, arguing that the document could not be regarded as a valid Supreme Court judgment because it was signed by only four justices instead of the usual panel of five or seven justices.
Ojo also questioned its relevance to the ongoing trial, contending that, based on the testimony of the seventh prosecution witness, the judgment arose from non-conviction proceedings.
Another defence counsel, Adeyinka Kotoye, SAN, supported the objection, arguing that the prosecution’s decision to introduce the document after proceedings had commenced was an additional reason it should be rejected.
Responding, Oyedepo maintained that the document was a duly certified public record that satisfied the requirements of Sections 102 and 104 of the Evidence Act.
He argued that the presence of a lead judgment did not affect its admissibility and urged the court to admit the document as evidence.
In his ruling, Justice Oshodi held that a Supreme Court judgment qualified as a public document and that the necessary certification requirements had been fulfilled.
The judge consequently admitted the document as Exhibit 10, overruling the defence’s objections.
The case was adjourned until December 17 and 18, 2026, and January 11, 14 and 19, 2027, for continuation of trial.
