From Victor Osula, Abuja
The trial of former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, took a fresh twist on Thursday, as a prosecution witness told the court that he personally accepted responsibility for the controversial $6.23 million fraud, insisting that the former apex bank chief neither gave him instructions nor played any direct role in the withdrawal.
Emefiele, who served as CBN governor between 2014 and 2023, is standing trial before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, on a 20-count charge bordering on alleged procurement fraud totalling about ₦1.2 billion. He is also accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of knowingly obtaining $6.23 million by false pretences, purportedly meant for the payment of international election observers during the 2023 general elections.
At the resumed proceedings, the EFCC called its 11th prosecution witness, Mr Bashirudeen Maishanu, a Deputy Director in the CBN’s Banking Supervision Department.
Maishanu told the court that he had earlier taken responsibility for the withdrawal before a special investigator, Jim Obaze, appointed by President Bola Tinubu to probe the activities of the CBN under Emefiele’s tenure. According to him, he only realised the transaction was fraudulent after he was confronted with documents during the investigation.
He said the documents revealed that the signatures of former President Muhammadu Buhari and the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, on the approval papers were forged.
“The disappearance of the $6.23 million rests on me. When Mr Obaze showed me the documents, I accepted responsibility. I was inadvertently involved, and Mr Eric Ocheme, the former governor’s personal assistant, is nowhere to be found. I did not know it was a fraud”, the witness told the court.
Maishanu further told the court that he neither met Emefiele nor gave him any money in relation to the transaction.
“I did not receive any instruction from him. All instructions I received were from Eric Ocheme”, he said, adding that he only saw Emefiele’s alleged approval when he met the special investigator.
The witness explained that he participated in the withdrawal believing it was a genuine transaction, noting that the CBN operates strict payment processes. He, however, admitted that he became suspicious when he and others involved were later given $2.5 million from the funds, although he did not officially report the matter to the bank.
While being cross-examined by defence counsel, Mr Matthew Burkaa, SAN, the witness admitted that the $2.5 million formed part of the $6.23 million withdrawal for which Emefiele is being prosecuted.
He told the court that while he was not charged over the transaction, he was suspended by the CBN. He also disclosed that he had refunded a substantial portion of the money to the Federal Government.
Earlier, led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the witness narrated how, in January 2023, Emefiele’s personal assistant sent one Ahmed to meet him over a transaction allegedly approved by the President.
Justice Hamza Muazu adjourned further hearing in the matter till Friday
