NEWS
EFCC Witness Tells Court Emefiele Did Not Benefit from Alleged $6.2 Million Fraud
An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness, Chief Superintendent of Police (CP) Okpoziakpo Eloho, on Thursday told an Abuja High Court that former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, did not benefit from the alleged $6.2 million fraud currently before the court.
Eloho, who testified as the 14th prosecution witness (PW14), made the disclosure during cross-examination by Emefiele’s counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Matthew Burka.
The EFCC is prosecuting the former CBN governor on charges bordering on criminal breach of trust, forgery, abuse of office, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence, and obtaining money by false pretence. The anti-graft agency also alleged that Emefiele conferred corrupt advantages on two companies, April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd.
Emefiele has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
At the resumed hearing, Eloho, who led the police investigation into the case, told the court that Emefiele, in his statement to investigators, denied approving or authorising the release of the $6.2 million to anyone.
The witness further stated that the former CBN governor also denied receiving any correspondence from the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, or acting on any such communication.
During cross-examination, Eloho confirmed that one Jibril Abubakar appeared before the investigative panel and admitted collecting the $6.2 million from the Abuja branch of the CBN.
He also told the court that none of the individuals questioned during the investigation claimed that Emefiele personally benefited from the money or received any part of the funds.
According to the witness, although Abubakar claimed to be a staff member in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, investigations later established that he was never an employee of the SGF’s office.
Eloho further informed the court that despite Abubakar’s admission to collecting the money from the apex bank, he was unaware whether Abubakar had been prosecuted over the matter.
The prosecution witness also disclosed that Bashirudeen Maishanu, a staff member of the Central Bank of Nigeria, was interrogated during the investigation and allegedly confessed to stealing the money.
When presented with documentary exhibits, including official correspondences relating to the processing, approval and release of the funds, Eloho acknowledged before the court that established protocols were breached during the transaction.
He explained that, under the CBN’s administrative hierarchy, official correspondence originating from the governor should ordinarily pass through the deputy governor before moving down the chain of command.
The witness also recalled obtaining a statement from Emefiele on December 13, 2023, at the Kuje Correctional Centre, where the former CBN governor responded to questions relating to his office and the disputed $6.2 million.
The trial continues as the court hears further evidence in the high-profile case involving the former CBN governor.