Witness: Emefiele’s naira notes redesign brought hardship to Nigerians

An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness, Chinelo Eneanya, on Thursday, October 30, 2025, an Abuja High Court that former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele’s naira notes redesign brought economic hardship to Nigerians.

Eneanya, an investigator with the EFCC, was the seventh prosecution witness in Emefiele’s trial on the redesign of naira notes of N1000, N500, and N200.

Being led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), the witness told the court that from the video evidence tendered in court, the new naira notes redesign policy injured the public.

Eneanya said he was in court to give evidence on the investigation carried out in this case and their findings.

When asked whether the commission’s investigation covered the allegations in the case, he said: “We investigated the allegations that the conduct of the defendant caused injury to the people.

“It has direct bearing on how or the effect of the naira redesign severely affected the public.

“We looked at the documentary, electronic  and audio visual evidence of the effect of the naira redesign on the public.”

The prosecution then tendered the documents, the audio-visual device, and the certificate of identification in evidence.

The certified copy of bundle of documents  tagged delivery notes and notice of meeting was admitted.

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The bill of settlement in respect of the redesigned naira notes, 2022 and 2023 were tendered and marked as evidence.

The defendant’s counsel, Olulekun Ojo (SAN), did not object to the tendering of the documents.

Six video evidence were played in the court.

When asked what was the commission’s findings on the video shown, the witness stated: “It showed that there were widespread frustration and difficulties from the public in meeting their daily needs and their businesses were equally affected.

“On the investigation conducted, we found that board members and committee of governors of CBN interviewed got to know about the approval of the president after it was approved.”

Eneanya added that in the cause of the investigation, the electronic evidence shown was to know whether there were any impact on the members of the public.

Ojo, however, objected when the witness wanted to speak on the Supreme Court’s judgement on naira redesign notes.

He said no witness can give evidence on a public document he did not brought about.

Ojo, thereafter, asked for an adjournment for cross-examination of the witness, while the prosecution did not object.

Justice Anenih granted the application for adjournment in the interest of justice until November 26.

The Star