Emefiele: Court admits Supreme Court forfeiture judgment as evidence

Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court admitted a certified true copy of a Supreme Court judgment as evidence in the trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele. The judge dismissed objections raised by the defense, stating that the Supreme Court judgment is a public document and a certified true copy of it is admissible as secondary evidence.

The defense had raised concerns about the inclusion of only the lead judgment in the Supreme Court judgment and the use of a civil judgment in a criminal trial. However, the court held that the requirement of service had been satisfied and dismissed the concerns based on Supreme Court decisions and the principle of the Purpose Doctrine in the Law of Evidence.