The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has fixed 10 fresh days to conclude the trial of a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, over alleged corruption linked to the controversial naira redesign exercise.
Justice Maryann Anenih, on Wednesday, approved the timeline following an agreement between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), and Emefiele’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo (SAN).
The court scheduled February 3 and 10; April 1 and 2; May 11, 12, 13 and 14; as well as June 9 and 10 for the continuation and conclusion of the trial, which began in 2024.
Justice Anenih urged both parties to adhere strictly to the dates, assuring them of the court’s readiness to accommodate their schedules to ensure speedy dispensation of justice.
At the resumed hearing, an EFCC witness, Emere Chinedu, disclosed that the Presidency under former President Muhammadu Buhari approved the redesign of the naira notes but directed that the printing should be carried out locally.
Chinedu, an EFCC operative who headed the inter-agency panel that investigated the former CBN governor, said the directive was communicated to the anti-graft agency in writing following an inquiry to the State House.
“The State House gave approval for the naira redesign, but with a proviso that it must be done locally,” the witness told the court.
He further revealed that Emefiele made six extrajudicial statements in the course of the investigation to defend himself, dated October 26, 27, 30 and 31, as well as November 1 and 2, 2023.
During cross-examination, the witness declined to confirm claims by Emefiele that a former EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, first suggested the naira redesign to Buhari, insisting that the commission had no power to initiate changes to the currency and could only act in an advisory capacity.
He also admitted that video clips showing Nigerians complaining of hardship during the naira redesign were downloaded from the internet and tendered by the EFCC to demonstrate the impact of the policy, adding that the clips existed before the probe panel was constituted.
Chinedu said he neither knew the producers of the videos nor interviewed any of the television stations involved.
Emefiele is standing trial in charge number FTC/HC/CR/264/2024 and has pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Justice Anenih adjourned further cross-examination of the witness to February 3.