The Special Offences Court in Lagos has refused to stop hearing the corruption allegations made against the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele.
Justice Rahman Oshodi in his ruling on Wednesday dismissed the suit from the embattled CBN governor’s counsel requesting his  recusal from the trial, stating that the allegations of bias against him were unsubstantiated.
Justice Oshodi particularly referenced a 2013 decision of the sitting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun to the effect that “Judicial bias is usually insufficient to justify disqualifying a judge from presiding over a case.
The judge then went on to cite other judicial precedents of the Supreme Court and subsequently held that the application for his recusal lacked merit.
The counsel for the prosecution, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), had opposed the applications, stating that they were unmeritorious.
Justice Oshodi also granted Emefiele’s request for permission to appeal the court’s decision made on January 8, which challenged the court’s jurisdiction to hear his case.
Â
