A fresh twist has emerged in the ongoing trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) told the court that key signatures used to withdraw millions of dollars were forged.
The anti-graft agency made the claim on Monday before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.
It said the signatures of former President Muhammadu Buhari and ex-Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, were falsified to facilitate the release of $6.23 million.
The revelation came during the resumed hearing of the case marked FCT/HC/CR/577/2023, where Emefiele is facing a 20-count charge filed by the federal government.
The charges include criminal breach of trust, forgery, abuse of office, and obtaining money under false pretence.
Testifying as the 13th prosecution witness, EFCC Assistant Commander II, Chinedu Eneanya, told the court that investigators uncovered how the funds were moved from the Central Bank of Nigeria. According to him, the money was allegedly processed under the claim that it was meant for foreign election observers during the 2023 general elections.
He explained that a team was set up to probe the transaction and several documents were retrieved from the apex bank. These documents, he said, formed part of the evidence now before the court.
“The investigation revealed that the money, $6.2 million, was removed from the coffers of the CBN for a purported funding of foreign observers for the 2023 elections,” he told the court.
