An EFCC witness has told an FCT high court in Abuja how $6.23 million was withdrawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for a purported election monitoring exercise during the 2023 general election under former governor Godwin Emefiele. Assistant commander Chinedu Eneanya testified that signatures attributed to the late President Muhammadu Buhari and former SGF Boss Mustapha were forged to facilitate the withdrawal. Emefiele is facing a 20-count amended charge including criminal breach of trust, forgery, and obtaining by false pretence. He has denied all charges.
Key Points
- Nigerian taxpayers lost $6.23m to a fake election observer exercise under official approval.
- Forgery of a former president's signature signals potential systemic fraud at the CBN.
- None of the five CBN officials who endorsed the transaction are standing trial.
- The defence has accused the prosecution of delaying tactics as witnesses remain outside court jurisdiction.
- The trial's outcome could set a precedent for accountability of top CBN officials.
Watch whether the prosecution secures subpoenas for witnesses in Benin and Lagos and if the court grants the defence's request to foreclose the prosecution's case.
Sources: TheCable
