An Ikeja Special Offences Court has adjourned ruling on former Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele’s application seeking forensic analysis of WhatsApp evidence in a $4.5 billion fraud case.
Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, are standing trial on charges bordering on receiving gratification and corrupt demands.
Emefiele’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), requested the court to permit a forensic analysis of a mobile phone used in extracting WhatsApp messages already tendered as evidence.
“We are 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,” Ojo said.
However, the EFCC counsel, Chigozie Okezie, opposed the application, arguing that the court had already admitted the evidence and retained it until the conclusion of the trial.
“The essence of it is for the documents to remain in their original form as presented before the court,” Okezie said.
After listening to both parties, Justice Rahman Oshodi adjourned the case until September 15 for ruling.
The EFCC counsel had suggested that the court nominate the director of the forensic department to select a laboratory for the exercise and ensure a proper chain of custody.
