In a significant development, Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court has rejected a request for his recusal from the ongoing trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
Delivering his ruling on Wednesday, Justice Oshodi firmly dismissed the defence’s claims of bias, emphasizing that no credible evidence had been presented to warrant his withdrawal from the case. The defence team, led by Olalekan Ojo, had sought the judge’s recusal, citing previous rulings that they believed indicated a possible bias.
However, Rotimi Oyedepo, representing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), strongly opposed the request, arguing that the trial had been conducted fairly and without prejudice.
After careful consideration of both parties’ arguments and relevant legal precedents, Justice Oshodi concluded that the application lacked merit. He reaffirmed his commitment to overseeing the case, stating, “The claims of bias have not been substantiated by either of the defendants. Accordingly, the first and second defendants’ recusal application is refused.”
With this ruling, the trial is set to proceed without any changes to the judicial panel overseeing the case, marking a key moment in the legal proceedings against Emefiele.
