The ongoing trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, regarding the alleged unlawful printing of new naira notes continued on Wednesday at the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
The seventh prosecution witness, Eneanye Chinedu, testified before Justice Maryanne Anineh that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) conducted a comprehensive and nationwide investigation into the controversial policy.
Chinedu, who serves as the Head of Special Duty Committee 3 at the EFCC, told the court under cross-examination by defence counsel Olalekan Ojo, SAN, that he coordinated a robust team of investigators.
While the witness clarified that he did not personally interrogate Emefiele, he maintained that his team members conducted the sessions and that his evidence-in-chief accurately reflected the essential findings of the commission without omitting any vital details.
He emphasised his role in assigning responsibilities to ensure the integrity of the probe across all EFCC zonal offices, including Lagos and Abuja.
The proceedings took a visual turn as the defence played several video clips from major news outlets, including News Central, TVC, and Arise News, highlighting the widespread hardship Nigerians faced during the currency redesign. Chinedu distanced the investigative team from the production of these reports, noting that while the commission monitored cash disbursements at commercial banks and interviewed members of the public, they did not formally interview news anchors or media presenters regarding their broadcasts.
A significant portion of the cross-examination focused on Emefiele’s extra-judicial statements. The witness confirmed that the former CBN Governor made a series of statements to the EFCC between late October and early November 2023.
Addressing a claim in Emefiele’s statement that former EFCC Chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa had briefed then-President Muhammadu Buhari on the necessity of the redesign, Chinedu refuted the notion that the commission has the power to initiate such policies. He clarified that the EFCC’s role is strictly limited to investigation and advisory services, adding that the defendant provided no evidence to support the claim of the commission’s involvement in the policy’s inception.
The witness further revealed that the investigation reached the State House, confirming he personally read a memorandum received from the presidency during the probe. However, an attempt by the defence to inquire about any executive orders issued by the late President Buhari regarding the redesign was blocked following an objection by prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN. The court upheld the objection, labelling the line of questioning as speculative.
Justice Maryanne Anineh has adjourned the matter until February 3 and 10, 2026, for the continuation of the trial. To ensure a steady progression of the case, the court also scheduled further hearing dates across April, May, and June 2026.
