A prosecution witness in the trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court that investigators found no evidence linking him to the alleged benefit of the controversial $6.23 million reportedly stolen from the apex bank.
The witness, Mr. Okpoziakpo Eloho, a Commissioner of Police attached to the Fraud Unit at the Force Headquarters and an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness, made the disclosure on Thursday while being cross-examined by Emefiele’s lead counsel, Mathew Burka (SAN), before Justice Hamza Muazu.
Emefiele is standing trial on charges of alleged procurement fraud and abuse of office.
During proceedings, Eloho admitted that the investigation uncovered no evidence showing that the former CBN governor received any portion of the alleged stolen funds, either in cash or through transfers into his personal accounts. He also confirmed that none of the individuals who confessed to stealing the money implicated Emefiele as a beneficiary.
The witness further told the court that in a statement made to investigators on December 13, 2023, at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Emefiele denied authorising the release of the $6.23 million. According to Eloho, the former CBN governor also denied receiving any correspondence from the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, relating to the payment, insisting that the signatures on the approval documents were not his.
Eloho also revealed that one Jibril Abubakar admitted before investigators that he collected the $6.23 million from the Abuja branch of the CBN. However, investigations later established that despite claiming to be a staff member in the Office of the SGF, Abubakar was never employed there.
The police commissioner added that he was unaware of any criminal prosecution against Abubakar despite his confession.
Similarly, the witness stated that another CBN employee, Bashirudeen Maishanu, confessed during interrogation to participating in the theft of the funds. Eloho, however, said he had no knowledge of any prosecution against Maishanu and expressed surprise at reports that the official may have been promoted despite the alleged confession.
When presented with documentary exhibits relating to the approval and release of the funds, Eloho acknowledged that established CBN procedures were breached. He explained that official correspondence from the CBN governor should ordinarily pass through the deputy governor before reaching subordinate officials.
On the issue of alleged forged signatures, the witness confirmed that former SGF Boss Mustapha had informed investigators that his signature was forged, although the statement was taken in the presence of special investigator Jim Obaze.
Eloho further admitted that while forensic analysis was conducted on Mustapha’s signature, it would have been appropriate to subject Emefiele’s disputed signature to the same forensic examination.
Justice Hamza Muazu adjourned the matter until July 3 for the continuation of trial.
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