Alleged Fraud: Emefiele indicted as witness confirms $6.2m payment for election observers

In the trial involving the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, a significant development occurred on Monday during the court proceedings.

Onyeka Ogbu, a Deputy Director responsible for Branch Operations at the Central Bank of Nigeria, testified before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama.

Ogbu stated that he was aware of a payment request amounting to $6.2 million intended for international election observers. This payment request was made on January 8, 2023, and Ogbu confirmed that he reviewed the associated documents and subsequently approved the disbursement. The funds were then executed as per the request.

The charges against Emefiele include allegations of criminal conspiracy, conferring undue advantage, and breach of trust, among others. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accuses him of impersonating the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to unlawfully obtain the sum of $6.2 million.

It is alleged that Emefiele forged a document dated January 26, 2023, titled “Re: Presidential directive on foreign election observer missions” with reference number SGF.43/L.01/201.

Ogbu’s testimony provides insights into the process and approval of the payment request, shedding light on the sequence of events surrounding the alleged fraudulent activity. This testimony is crucial in establishing the prosecution’s case against Emefiele.

“Ours is to make payment, we don’t have the power to approve.

“Having gone through the documents and satisfied, I minuted on it and sent for processing and disbursement which was complied with.”

All documents were identified, but certain pages were absent.

This led the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), to request a temporary halt for the issue of the missing pages to be addressed.

The defendant’s counsel, Matthew Burkaa (SAN), however, objected, adding that the prosecution is bound by the evidence presented in the documents.

He said adjournment is better to allow the prosecution to get all the certified true copies and also for the witness to be cross-examined.

After listening to their submissions, Justice Hamza Muazu adjourned till Tuesday for the continuation of trial.