Maryanne Anineh, Justice of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Monday admitted several newspaper publications as exhibits in the ongoing trial of Godwin Emefiele, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, over allegations surrounding the unlawful redesign of the naira.
- +Naira Redesign: Fresh exhibits tendered against Emefiele in Abuja Court
The documents were tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during proceedings in the four charges filed against the former apex bank chief, which borders on the alleged unlawful printing of new naira notes.
The documents were tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during proceedings in the four charges filed against the former apex bank chief, which borders on the alleged unlawful printing of new naira notes.
At the resumed hearing, Rotimi Oyedepo, prosecution counsel, presented the eighth prosecution witness, Jegede Oluwasegun, an official of the National Library of Nigeria.
The witness tendered certified copies of newspaper publications from The Punch, ThisDay, Vanguard, Daily Sun, and The Nation, alongside payment receipts used for the purchase of the newspapers.
According to the prosecution, the documents contained reports relating to the controversial naira redesign policy and were being presented in compliance with an application earlier filed by the defence team.
Oyedepo informed the court that the move followed a motion on notice filed by Olalekan Ojo, defence counsel, on March 31, 2026, requesting the prosecution to produce all press releases and newspaper publications relating to the alleged unlawful act.
The exhibits were subsequently admitted in evidence by the court without objection from the defence.
During cross-examination, the witness clarified the scope of his responsibilities at the National Library, stating that his duties primarily involved attending to readers’ information needs and certifying newspaper documents.
Oluwasegun further told the court that he neither authored the publications nor possessed knowledge of the contents beyond the certification process.
“I cannot speak on the content of the newspapers because my duty is simply to certify the documents,” he said.
The EFCC is prosecuting Emefiele over allegations linked to the implementation of the naira redesign policy, a programme that generated widespread public debate and economic disruption during its rollout.
