Emefiele Trial: Police Witness Links $6.23m Withdrawal To Fraud

The trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele, continued on Tuesday as a prosecution witness told the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory that some suspects confessed to fraudulently withdrawing $6.23m from the apex bank.

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The witness, a Commissioner of Police, Eloho Edwin Okpoziakpo, made the disclosure while testifying before Justice Hamza Muazu at the Maitama division of the court in Abuja.

Emefiele is facing a 20-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, forgery, abuse of office, and conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence in suit number FCT/HC/CR/577/2023.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Testifying during the resumed hearing, Okpoziakpo told the court that he was part of a team deployed to assist a special investigator appointed by President Bola Tinubu to probe activities of the CBN and other government entities.

According to him, his role included taking statements, interrogating suspects, and providing intelligence to aid the investigation.

He said, “Investigation revealed that the money was fraudulently taken because some of the suspects, including Maishanu, that we investigated confessed.”

The police officer further revealed that the funds were allegedly withdrawn under the pretext of being meant for international election observers for the 2023 general election.

However, he told the court that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation denied making any such request.

“The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation denied ever requesting for money for election observers, which was claimed the money was meant for. We wrote to the office and they responded,” he added.

Okpoziakpo also told the court that the withdrawal was backed by documents, including a letter purportedly conveying approval from former President Muhammadu Buhari.

He identified several exhibits already admitted by the court, noting that:

• Exhibit PD6 was a document requesting the release of the $6.23m to Emefiele;
• Exhibit PD7 was the alleged approval from Buhari dated January 24, 2023.

The witness said the request was processed and the funds were eventually paid.

Providing further details, the police officer stated that key documents relating to the cash withdrawal were recovered from the Abuja branch of the CBN.

He explained that Exhibit PD1 contained details of the cash disbursement in $100 denominations on February 8, 2023, while Exhibit PD2 was an internal memo approving the payment.

Following the proceedings, Justice Muazu adjourned the case till July 2, 2026, for continuation of trial.