The Abuja High Court, presided over by Justice Maryanne Anenih, has granted an additional ten days to finish proceedings in the corruption lawsuit brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, regarding the redesign of naira notes during his tenure.
Justice Anenih set the dates after both the prosecution, represented by Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), and Emefiele’s Defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), reached an agreement. The trial days were scheduled for February 3 and 10, April 1 and 2, May 11, 12, 13, and 14, and June 9 and 10, by which time the trial, which commenced in 2024, is expected to end.
The Judge appealed to counsel on both sides to adhere strictly to the scheduled dates, assuring them that the court would make the necessary arrangements to accommodate all parties.
During the proceedings, an EFCC witness, Emere Chinedu, who is an operative of the anti-graft agency, acknowledged that the Presidency under former President Muhammadu Buhari had, in a letter to the EFCC, confirmed granting approval to Emefiele for the redesign of the naira notes.
He added, however, that the Presidency’s response to the EFCC’s inquiry stated that the newly redesigned notes were to be printed locally, contrary to the decision of the former CBN governor to produce them outside Nigeria.
The Inter-Agency Probe Panel, led by Chinedu, investigated the former CBN governor, stating that Emefiele made six separate extra-judicial statements while appearing before the panel in his defence, and further explained that the statements were made on October 26, 27, 30, and 31, and on November 1 and 2, 2023.
“In the course of our job, we extended our investigation into the State House for the record of approval for 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 provision that it must be done locally,” the witness stated.
The counsel to Emefiele, Ojo (SAN), cross-examined the witness from the Commission, who declined to respond to Emefiele’s claim in one of his statements that former EFCC Executive Chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa initially proposed the naira redesign to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Instead, the witness disclosed that the EFCC lacks the authority to propose changes to the color of the naira, noting that any involvement by the agency in such matters would be purely advisory.
Regarding the video clips from various television stations across the country, in which Nigerians complained of hardship and which were tendered by the EFCC, he acknowledged that the videos existed before the Federal Government set up his probe panel.
He further explained that the panel downloaded the news and programme clips from the internet and presented them as evidence to illustrate the suffering endured by Nigerians during the naira redesign.
He noted that he was not familiar with the staff of the television stations that produced the video content and did not interview anyone from the stations.
Justice Anenih subsequently adjourned further cross-examination of the witness by Emefiele to February 3.