Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, has fixed 10 additional hearing days to conclude the trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, over alleged corruption linked to the naira redesign policy.
Justice Anenih fixed the dates following a consensus reached by counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), and counsel to Emefiele, Olalekan Ojo (SAN).
The scheduled hearing dates are February 3 and 10; April 1 and 2; May 11, 12, 13 and 14; as well as June 9 and 10, during which the trial—commenced in 2024—is expected to be concluded.
The judge urged counsel on both sides to adhere strictly to the scheduled dates, assuring them that the court would make adequate arrangements to accommodate the proceedings.
At the day’s sitting, an EFCC witness, Emere Chinedu, an operative of the anti-graft agency, admitted that the Presidency under former President Muhammadu Buhari had granted approval for the naira redesign.
Chinedu, however, said a letter from the Presidency to the EFCC stipulated that the printing of the redesigned naira notes should be carried out locally, contrary to the foreign printing allegedly undertaken under Emefiele’s tenure.
Chinedu, who headed the Inter-Agency Probe Panel that investigated the former CBN governor, testified that Emefiele made six extra-judicial statements during the investigation.
According to him, the statements were made on October 26, 27, 30 and 31, and November 1 and 2, 2023.
“In the course of our investigation, we extended our enquiries to the State House to obtain records of approval for the naira redesign. The response of the State House was communicated to the EFCC in writing.
“The State House granted approval for the naira redesign, with the proviso that it must be carried out locally,” the witness said.
During cross-examination by Emefiele’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), the witness declined to comment on Emefiele’s claim that a former EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, was the first to suggest the naira redesign to President Buhari.
Instead, Chinedu stated that the EFCC had no authority to propose changes to the colour or design of the naira, adding that any such action could only be advisory in nature.
On video clips tendered by the EFCC showing Nigerians complaining of hardship during the naira redesign period, the witness admitted that the videos existed before the probe panel was constituted.
He said the videos, sourced from various television stations, were downloaded from the internet and tendered to demonstrate the alleged hardship suffered by Nigerians during the policy’s implementation.
Chinedu added that he neither knew the journalists who produced the videos nor interviewed any staff of the television stations involved.
Further cross-examination of the witness has been adjourned to February 3, as ordered by Justice Anenih.
