A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has fixed ten additional days to conclude the trial in the corruption case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, over the naira redesign policy.
Justice Maryann Anenih set the dates on Wednesday after an agreement reached by counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, and Emefiele’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, SAN.
The court scheduled the hearings for February 3 and 10; April 1 and 2; May 11, 12, 13, and 14; as well as June 9 and 10. The judge said the case, which began in 2024, should be concluded within the period.
Justice Anenih directed lawyers on both sides to respect the trial dates. She assured them that the court would make the necessary arrangements to ensure smooth proceedings.
During Wednesday’s session, an EFCC witness, Emere Chinedu, an operative of the commission, told the court that the Presidency under former President Muhammadu Buhari approved the redesign of the naira. He said the approval was communicated to the EFCC through a letter.
Chinedu added that the same letter specified that the printing of the redesigned notes should take place within Nigeria. He said this differed from the approach taken by the former CBN governor, who printed the notes outside the country.
The witness, who led the inter-agency panel that investigated Emefiele, said the former CBN governor made six separate extrajudicial statements while appearing before the panel. According to him, the statements were recorded on October 26, 27, 30, and 31, as well as November 1 and 2, 2023.
“In the course of our job, we extended our investigation to the State House for records of approval for the naira redesign. The response of the State House was communicated to the EFCC in writing.
“The State House gave approval for the naira redesign, but with a proviso that it must be done locally,” the witness said.
Under cross-examination by Emefiele’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, Chinedu declined to respond to claims credited to Emefiele that Abdulrasheed Bawa, a former Executive Chairman of the EFCC, first suggested the naira redesign to President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said the EFCC lacks the authority to propose a change in the colour of the naira, noting that any such role would only be advisory.
The witness also spoke on video clips from different television stations tendered by the EFCC. The videos showed Nigerians complaining about hardship linked to the naira redesign. He admitted that the footage existed before the Federal Government set up his probe panel.
According to him, members of the panel downloaded the videos from the internet and presented them in court to illustrate the suffering experienced by Nigerians during the period. He said he did not know the staff of the television stations who produced the clips and confirmed that he did not interview anyone from the stations.
Emefiele is standing trial in the charge marked FTC/HC/CR/264/2024. He has pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
Justice Maryann Anenih later adjourned further cross-examination of the witness to February 3.
