A Deputy Director in charge of Branch Operations at the Central Bank of Nigeria, Onyeka Ogbu, has told a High Court in Abuja, that he was aware of a $6.2 million payment request for international election observers…an issue among many, that has popped up in the trial of former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele
Mr Ogbu, the prosecution witness-1, said, the request was made on the 8th of January, 2023. He noted that he reviewed the documents and subsequently gave approval for disbursement which was then executed.
All documents were identified, but certain pages were absent. This led the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, to request a temporary halt…for the issue of the missing pages to be addressed.
However, counsel to Emefiele, Matthew Burkaa objected, adding that the prosecution was bound by the evidence presented in the documents. He said the adjournment would 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 the trial till Tuesday.
Former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, is standing trial on an amended 20 charges bordering on criminal conspiracy, conferring undue advantage, and breach of trust among others preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC). He was accused of impersonating the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to illegally obtain a sum of $6.2m.