A Federal Capital Territory High Court has granted former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, permission to subject WhatsApp chats tendered as evidence in his ongoing trial to forensic examination.
Justice Maryann Anenih issued the order on Wednesday after Emefiele’s legal team requested access to review the authenticity and integrity of the digital evidence presented by the prosecution.
The WhatsApp messages, central to the prosecution’s case, are alleged to contain incriminating communications tied to abuse of office and financial misconduct during Emefiele’s tenure as CBN governor.
His defence team, however, argued that the chats may have been manipulated, insisting on an independent forensic review.
Granting the request, Justice Anenih ruled that forensic experts be allowed to analyse the devices, metadata, and chat records, adding that the findings would form part of the court’s consideration in determining the credibility of the prosecution’s evidence.
The trial, which has attracted wide public attention, continues amid growing scrutiny of Emefiele’s actions while in office.
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