The 14th prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of the immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, on Tuesday told the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory that some suspects confessed to the fraudulent withdrawal of $6.23m from the apex bank.
- +Emefiele: Suspects confessed to $6.23m fraud, witness tells court
Emefiele is standing trial before Justice Hamza Muazu at the Maitama Division of the court on an amended 20-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, forgery, abuse of office, conspiracy, and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of $6,230,000.
Emefiele is standing trial before Justice Hamza Muazu at the Maitama Division of the court on an amended 20-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, forgery, abuse of office, conspiracy, and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of $6,230,000.
The money was said to be meant for international election observers during the 2023 general election.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had accused the former CBN governor of conferring corrupt advantages on two firms, April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the witness, Eloho Edwin Okpoziakpo, a Commissioner of Police with the Special Fraud Unit, Lagos, told the court that he was part of a team deployed to assist the special investigator, Jim Obaze, appointed by President Bola Tinubu to probe the CBN and other government entities.
PUNCH Online earlier reported that the court had summoned both Okpoziakpo and Obaze to testify in the ongoing trial.
The witness said his role involved taking statements, interrogating suspects, and providing intelligence to support the investigation.
Led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), he said intelligence reports indicated that $6.23m was fraudulently withdrawn from the CBN Abuja branch with the defendant’s approval.
He said the team subsequently interrogated Emefiele and other suspects.
He stated, “Investigation revealed that the money was fraudulently taken because some of the suspects, including Maishanu, who we investigated, confessed.
“The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation denied ever requesting money for election observers, which was claimed the money was meant for. We wrote to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and they responded.”
The witness further stated that the withdrawal was backed by documents, including a letter conveying purported presidential approval by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He identified documents earlier admitted in evidence, stating that Exhibit PD6 was a request for the release of the funds directed to Emefiele, while Exhibit PD7 was the purported approval dated January 24, 2023.
He added that the request was processed and the money paid.
Okpoziakpo also told the court that he personally recovered Exhibits PD1 to PD5 from the Abuja branch of the CBN, where the cash was withdrawn.
He said PD1 detailed the disbursement of the funds in $100 denominations on February 8, 2023, while PD2 was a memo from the Director of Banking Services approving the payment.
Justice Muazu adjourned the case till July 2 for continuation of the hearing.
