Emefiele Approved $6.23m For International Election Observers – Witness

On Monday, February 12, 2024, Ogau Onyeka Michael, the First Prosecution Witness in the ongoing trial of Godwin Emefiele, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, or CBN, testified before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Maitama, Abuja, about how the former head of the CBN approved the payment of $6,230,000 (six million, two hundred and thirty thousand dollars) in cash for foreign election observers in the most recent general election in 2023.

According to an EFCC statement, Michael revealed this information while providing testimony in the former CBN governor’s current trial.

Emefiele is on trial before Justice Muazu on 20 revised counts related to criminal breach of trust, corrupt advantages, forgery, and receiving money under false pretences totaling $6,230,000.00 (six million, two hundred and thirty thousand US dollars).

‘’At the resumed trial on Monday, Michael, a former branch controller of the CBN, Abuja branch, led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, identified the documents presented to him by the prosecution adding that he worked on the documents.

“According to him, on January 8, 2023, a request for payment in the sum of $6,230,000 came to his office and documents for the disbursement of the money were approved by the then CBN boss in cash for international election observers.

Read Also: EFCC Declares Emefiele’s Wife, Three Others Wanted

“My Lord, all requests for payments are usually channelled to the branch controller and that is my office. And on that day, my Lord, the request to my office was $6,230,000 and my attention was drawn towards it by my office assistant. It came from the banking services department and the memo carried the signature of the Director, Banking Services, with an instruction to the branch controller to pay the sum of $6,230,000 to a staff of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, bearing the name and identity card of the person”, he said.

Michael further explained that; “It stated that the payment was for election observance and be paid cash in a naira equivalent of the said amount. It further stated that the money should be refunded in the second quarter of 2023 by the Federal Ministry of Finance. My Lord, the document also stated that, ‘find attached the approval of the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria for the payment’.

“Also, the memo had an attached approval of the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and that of the then President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Having gone through the document and satisfied that it met the requirement, I then minuted it to the head of the banking services unit for processing and subsequent payment. Mr. Williams, head of banking services compiled and made the payment on April 8, 2023, and the payment was in cash. I can identify the document because it also carries my signature,” he said.

While attempting to present all six documents as exhibits, Oyedepo informed the judge that two of the documents bearing the signatures of the President and the former SGF were photocopies. As a result, she only attempted to present the four original documents, hoping the other two would be tendered at a later time during the trial. In order to go to the CBN building and obtain the original copies, he also requested a 30-minute standdown from the court.

Mathew Bukka, SAN, the defence attorney, objected to Oyedepo’s prayers, stating that the case was scheduled for February 12 and 13. He then moved to postpone the matter until February 13, further arguing that Oyedepo’s request for 30 minutes wouldn’t be sufficient for the prosecution to obtain the original documents from the CBN.

Following hearing their arguments, Justice Muazu postponed the case until February 13, 2024, in order to continue the trial.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli