The Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, on Thursday halted the planned testimonies of three prosecution witnesses in the corruption trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
Justice Hamza Muazu ruled that the witnesses—Tommy Odama, Ifeanyi Omeke, and Alvan Grumman—could not take the stand due to an earlier decision that struck out the EFCC’s additional proof of evidence in March 2024.
Two of the witnesses, Odama and Omeke, were subpoenaed by the anti-graft agency.
However, the judge held that the March ruling barred their appearance, noting that the court could not “change its own ruling” by allowing them to testify.
The third witness, Grumman, who the EFCC described as an investigator in the case, was also disqualified pending the outcome of the commission’s appeal challenging the earlier ruling.
Justice Muazu said the prosecution must await the decision of the appellate court before presenting him.
The EFCC had planned for Grumman to serve as its 11th witness, having already called 10 witnesses.
Emefiele is facing 20 counts bordering on criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to obtain money by false pretences, and corruption.
Prosecutors allege that he conferred undue advantages on two companies—April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd—and on businesswoman Sa’adatu Ramalan-Yaro through procurement contracts awarded between 2018 and 2020. He has pleaded not guilty.
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Justice Muazu adjourned the matter to January 29, 2026, for continuation of trial.
The ruling follows the court’s rejection in March of the EFCC’s attempt to introduce new witnesses and documents after Emefiele had taken his plea.
The judge held that the move amounted to “trial by ambush” and breached the defendant’s right to fair hearing.
The former CBN governor is also standing trial in two other criminal cases in Lagos and Abuja, one of which relates to the controversial naira redesign policy.