An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness on Thursday told an Abuja High Court that former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, did not personally benefit from the alleged $6.2 million fraud for which he is standing trial.
The witness, Commissioner of Police Okpoziakpo Eloho, who is the 14th prosecution witness, made the disclosure during cross-examination by Emefiele’s counsel, Matthew Burkaa (SAN).
Emefiele is facing charges of criminal breach of trust, forgery, abuse of office, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence and obtaining money by false pretence.
The EFCC alleges that while serving as CBN governor, Emefiele conferred corrupt advantages on two companies, April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
During Thursday’s proceedings, Eloho, who led the police investigation into the case, told the court that Emefiele denied authorising the release of the $6.2 million or approving its payment to any individual.
The witness also said the former CBN governor denied receiving or acting on any letter purportedly issued by the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha.
According to Eloho, one Jibril Abubakar appeared before the investigative panel and admitted collecting the $6.2 million from the Abuja branch of the CBN.
He further testified that none of the individuals questioned during the investigation stated that Emefiele benefited from the money in any way.
The witness added that although Abubakar claimed to be a staff member in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, investigators later established that he had never worked there.
Eloho also told the court that despite Abubakar’s admission that he collected the money from the CBN, he was not aware whether Abubakar had been prosecuted.
He further disclosed that Bashirudeen Maishanu, a CBN employee, was also interrogated during the investigation and allegedly confessed to stealing the money.
When shown documentary exhibits relating to the processing, approval and release of the funds, the witness admitted that due process was not followed.
He explained that, under the CBN’s administrative hierarchy, official correspondence from the governor should ordinarily pass through a deputy governor before being transmitted to other officials.
“I recall that on Dec. 13, 2023, we were at the Kuje Correctional Centre where the defendant made his statement regarding the money,” Eloho told the court.
The witness also testified that former SGF Boss Mustapha’s statement was taken by the Federal Government’s Special Investigator, Jim Obaze, and that he was present when Mustapha alleged that his signature had been forged.
On whether forensic analysis was conducted on Emefiele’s signature, Eloho said it would have been desirable to subject it to the same examination carried out on Mustapha’s signature.
During re-examination, Emefiele’s counsel objected after prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), sought to tender exhibits unrelated to the alleged $6.2 million fraud.
Burkaa argued that Section 215(3) of the Evidence Act does not permit the introduction of issues outside the scope of re-examination.
“The question is not relevant and cannot be permitted in re-examination,” he argued.
In a brief ruling, Justice Hamza Muazu upheld the objection, stating that there was no ambiguity in the witness’s testimony on the documents already before the court.
The judge added that he would not allow the witness to continue the investigation in open court and adjourned the case until Friday for continuation of the trial.
