ABUJA — A senior police officer told the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on Tuesday that several suspects confessed to fraudulently withdrawing $6.23 million from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, with approval allegedly linked to former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele.
The testimony came from the 14th prosecution witness, PW14, Commissioner of Police Eloho Edwin Okpoziakpo, head of the Special Fraud Unit, Lagos.
He was testifying in the ongoing trial of Emefiele before Justice Hamza Muazu at Maitama, Abuja.
Emefiele is facing an amended 20-count charge, designated FCT/HC/CR/577/2023, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The charges include criminal breach of trust, forgery, abuse of office, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence, and obtaining $6,230,000 while serving as CBN governor.
The funds were purportedly requested for international election observers ahead of the 2023 general election.
The EFCC also accused Emefiele of conferring corrupt advantages on two firms: April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd. He pleaded not guilty.
Led by prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, CP Okpoziakpo said he was part of a police team assisting Special Investigator Jim Obaze, appointed by President Bola Tinubu to probe the CBN and other government entities.
“Investigation revealed that the money was fraudulently taken because some suspects, including Maishanu, whom we investigated confessed,” Okpoziakpo told the court.
He said the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation denied ever requesting funds for election observers, adding that the SGF’s office confirmed this in writing after the investigators sought clarification.
The witness testified that the withdrawal was processed using documents that included a letter forwarding purported approval from then-President Muhammadu Buhari, dated January 24, 2023.
The request, directed to Emefiele, was said to have been honoured and “the money was paid.”
CP Okpoziakpo said he personally recovered key exhibits from the CBN’s Abuja branch, where the cash was collected.
He identified (Exhibit PD1) Details of the payout in $100 bales on February 8, 2023, (Exhibit PD2) a CBN memo from the Director of Banking Services to the Abuja Branch Controller approving payment of $6.23m, (Exhibit PD6) document requesting release of $6.23m directed to Emefiele, and (Exhibit PD7) purported approval letter from former President Buhari.
Justice Muazu adjourned the case to July 2, 2026, for continuation of the trial.
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