A High Court in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has fixed 10 new hearing dates to conclude the trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, over charges related to the naira redesign.
Justice Maryann Anenih set the dates on Wednesday following an agreement between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Emefiele’s legal team. The trial, which commenced in 2024, is now scheduled for February 3 and 10; April 1 and 2; May 11–14; and June 9 and 10.
Justice Anenih urged counsel on both sides to adhere strictly to the schedule, assuring that the court would make adequate provisions to accommodate the proceedings.
At Wednesday’s resumed hearing, EFCC witness Emere Chinedu, who led the inter-agency panel investigating Emefiele, told the court that the redesign of the naira was approved by the Presidency under former President Muhammadu Buhari, but with the condition that the printing of the notes be done locally. He alleged that the redesigned notes were instead printed abroad during Emefiele’s tenure.
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Chinedu also disclosed that Emefiele made six extra-judicial statements before the probe panel between October 26 and November 2, 2023. During cross-examination, he declined to comment on Emefiele’s claim that former EFCC Chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa initially suggested the redesign to Buhari, stating that the EFCC had no authority to propose changes to the naira.
The witness confirmed that video clips presented by the EFCC, showing the hardships Nigerians suffered during the redesign, were downloaded from the internet and existed before the probe panel was established. He added that staff of the television stations that produced the clips were not interviewed.
Emefiele, standing trial under charge FCT/HC/CR/264/2024, has pleaded not guilty. Justice Anenih adjourned the matter to February 3 for the continuation of cross-examination of the EFCC witness.