The ongoing trial of former Godwin Emefiele took a dramatic turn on Monday, April 27, after a prosecution witness alleged that $6.23 billion was unlawfully withdrawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria under the guise of funding foreign election observers for the 2023 general elections.

Testifying before Justice Hamza Muazu at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, the witness, Chinedu Eneanya, stated that investigations revealed the funds were approved using documents allegedly bearing forged signatures of former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

Eneanya, who appeared as the 13th prosecution witness, told the court that forensic examinations carried out on the approval documents confirmed that the signatures were not authentic. He added that investigators questioned several individuals connected to the transactions and recovered key documents from the Central Bank.

During cross-examination, the witness further disclosed that five officials of the apex bank who endorsed the internal memo authorising the release of the funds had since been suspended.

Defence counsel, Matthew Burkaa (SAN), accused the prosecution of delaying proceedings and asked the court to close the prosecution’s case if it failed to produce its remaining witnesses at the next hearing.

In response, prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), argued that efforts were still being made to secure witnesses currently outside the court’s jurisdiction.

Justice Muazu subsequently directed both parties to reserve their arguments until final addresses and instructed the prosecution to collaborate with the court registrar in issuing subpoenas to the witnesses.

The matter was adjourned to April 28, 2026, for continuation of trial.

AB