A witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has told a Federal Capital Territory High Court that $6.23 million was withdrawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria in February 2023 using documents allegedly forged to justify funding for foreign election observers.
The testimony was given by Chinedu Eneanya, an EFCC investigator and prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele. He said the funds were removed in cash from the bank’s vault under the pretext of supporting election-related activities during the 2023 general election.
According to the investigator, documents authorising the withdrawal were recovered during the probe, and a forensic review indicated that signatures attributed to former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha were not authentic.
Earlier court testimony had established that the entire sum was withdrawn in a single day.
However, under cross-examination, Eneanya acknowledged gaps in the investigation. He confirmed that no forensic analysis had been conducted on Emefiele’s signature and that none of the Central Bank officials who endorsed the internal memo authorising the transaction is currently facing trial, although they were suspended by the bank.
He also told the court that while a lawyer, Ifeanyi Omeke, had claimed to have received funds on behalf of the former governor, Emefiele had not been directly questioned on that specific allegation.
Proceedings became contentious when the prosecution failed to present additional witnesses. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo, said subpoenas had not yet been issued for key witnesses located outside the court’s jurisdiction, including in Benin and Lagos.
Defence counsel challenged the delay, warning that it could seek to have the prosecution’s case closed if witnesses were not produced. The prosecution opposed the move, arguing that it would prevent it from fully presenting its case.
The presiding judge, Hamza Muazu, directed both parties to reserve their arguments for final written submissions and instructed the prosecution to coordinate with the court registrar to issue the necessary subpoenas.
The case was adjourned to the following day for continuation of proceedings.
Emefiele is facing a 20-count amended charge including criminal breach of trust, forgery, procurement fraud, and conspiracy. He has denied all allegations.
