Emefiele Trial: Witness Alleges $6.23m Fraud Confession
Last update: April 28, 2026
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CBN fraud case: police witness links Emefiele to $6.23m withdrawal...
The trial of the immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, continued on Tuesday with a prosecution witness telling the court that some suspects confessed to fraudulently withdrawing $6.23 million from the apex bank.
CBI News reports that the 14th prosecution witness, who testified before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Maitama, Abuja, said investigations revealed that the withdrawal was carried out under the pretext of being meant for international election observers for the 2023 general election.
Emefiele is standing trial before Justice Hamza Muazu on an amended 20-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, forgery, abuse of office, conspiracy, and obtaining money under false pretence amounting to $6.23 million while in office.
The funds were allegedly meant for international election observers during the 2023 general election.
The charges were filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which also accused the defendant of conferring corrupt advantages on two firms April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd.
Emefiele, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Testifying in court, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Special Fraud Unit, Lagos, Eloho Edwin Okpoziakpo, said he was part of a team assigned to assist a special investigator appointed by President Bola Tinubu.
According to him, the team supported the investigation by taking statements, interrogating suspects, and providing intelligence.
He told the court that intelligence reports indicated that $6.23 million was fraudulently withdrawn from the Abuja branch of the CBN with the defendant’s approval.
“Investigation revealed that the money was fraudulently taken because some of the suspects, including Maishanu, that we investigated confessed,” he said.
The witness further stated that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation denied requesting the funds, contrary to claims that the money was meant for election observers.
“The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation denied ever requesting for money for election observers, which was claimed the money was meant for. We wrote to the office and they responded,” he added.
Okpoziakpo told the court that the withdrawal was executed using documents, including a letter purportedly conveying approval from former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He identified several exhibits tendered by the prosecution, including documents requesting the release of the funds and the alleged presidential approval dated January 24, 2023.
“The request to release the $6.23 million was honoured, it was treated and the money was paid,” he said.
He also told the court that he personally recovered key documents from the Abuja branch of the CBN, detailing how the funds were disbursed in cash.
Following the proceedings, Justice Muazu adjourned the case until July 2, 2026, for continuation of trial.
