A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has told the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja that some suspects confessed to fraudulently withdrawing $6.23 million from the apex bank.
The witness, Commissioner of Police Eloho Edwin Okpoziakpo, who is the 14th prosecution witness, gave the testimony while being led in evidence by counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Maitama Division of the FCT High Court.
Emefiele is facing an amended 20-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, forgery, abuse of office, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence, and unlawful receipt of funds allegedly totalling $6,230,000 during his tenure as CBN governor. The EFCC alleges that the funds were meant for international election observers during the 2023 general elections. He has, however, pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Okpoziakpo told the court that during investigations, intelligence was received concerning the alleged fraudulent withdrawal of $6.23 million from the CBN Abuja branch, said to have been approved by the former CBN governor. He explained that he and other officers were deployed to support a special investigation team led by a presidential investigator, where their duties included taking statements, interrogating suspects, and supporting intelligence gathering.
According to him, investigations revealed that some suspects, including one Maishanu, allegedly confessed to involvement in the withdrawal. He also told the court that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation denied ever requesting funds for election observers, contrary to claims linked to the transaction.
The witness further stated that the funds were released based on documents presented during the investigation, including a letter transmitting an alleged presidential approval for the payment dated January 24, 2023. He added that a formal request for the release of the funds, presented as Exhibit PD6, was addressed to Emefiele, while Exhibit PD7 contained the purported approval.
He told the court that the request was processed and the money subsequently paid, stating that “it was treated and the money was paid.”
Okpoziakpo also informed the court that he personally recovered Exhibits PD1 to PD5 from the CBN Abuja branch, where the funds were disbursed. He explained that PD1 contained details of the payment in $100 denominations made on February 8, 2023, while PD2 was a memo from the CBN Director of Banking Services to the Abuja Branch Controller authorising the release of the $6.23 million.
The matter was adjourned by Justice Hamza Muazu until July 2, 2026, for continuation of hearing.