Witness alleges $6.23bn diverted from CBN for 2023 election observers in Emefiele trial

A prosecution witness on Monday told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, that $6.23 billion was allegedly moved from the coffers of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under the guise of funding foreign observers for the 2023 general election.

The witness, Chinedu Eneanya, gave the testimony before Justice Hamza Muazu in the ongoing trial of former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an amended 20-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, forgery, abuse of office and related offences.

Eneanya, who appeared as the 13th prosecution witness (PW13), told the court he was part of the investigative team that probed the allegations against the defendant. Led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), he said investigations revealed that the funds were withdrawn from the CBN purportedly to finance foreign election observers.

He further stated that several individuals linked to the transaction were invited and interviewed, while documents authorising the release of the funds were recovered from the apex bank.

According to the witness, findings showed that the signatures of former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, were allegedly forged to facilitate the approval and release of the funds.

He added that forensic analysis conducted on the documents confirmed that the signatures attributed to both officials were not genuine.

Under cross-examination by defence counsel Matthew Burkaa (SAN), Eneanya disclosed that five CBN officials who signed the internal memo related to the transaction had been suspended by the bank.

Earlier, the defence had urged the court to foreclose the prosecution’s case if it failed to produce its remaining two witnesses at the next adjourned date, alleging deliberate delay.

However, the prosecution opposed the application, explaining that the delay was due to difficulties in securing the attendance of the witnesses, who are reportedly outside the court’s jurisdiction in Benin City and Lagos.

Justice Muazu directed both parties to reserve their arguments on the application until the final address stage and instructed the prosecution to work with the court registrar to issue subpoenas to compel the witnesses’ appearance.

The case was adjourned to April 28, 2026, for continuation of trial.