No Evidence Emefiele Received Stolen $6.2 Million – EFCC Witness Tells Court

A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Okpoziakpo Eloho, on Thursday told the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory that there was no evidence that a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, benefited from the alleged theft of $6,230,000 from the apex bank.

Naija News reports that Eloho, a Commissioner of Police at the Fraud Unit of the Force Headquarters, Abuja, made the admission during cross-examination by Emefiele’s lead counsel, Mathew Burka, SAN.

Emefiele is being prosecuted by the EFCC before Justice Hamza Muazu over alleged procurement fraud and abuse of office.

The witness, who led the police investigation into the former CBN governor, admitted that investigators found no evidence that the money was paid to Emefiele either in cash or through bank transfer by those who admitted collecting or stealing the funds.

He told the court that none of the persons interviewed or investigated in connection with the money stated that Emefiele benefited from the transaction in any way.

According to Eloho, Emefiele, in his statement to investigators, denied approving or authorising the release of the money to anyone.

The police commissioner also said the former CBN governor denied receiving any letter from the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, or acting on any such letter in relation to the alleged withdrawal.

“I recall that on December 13, 2023, we were at Kuje correctional centre, where the defendant made his statement in relation to his office on the $6.2 million.

“He was confronted with the issue of the money, his approval and authorisation for the release of the money.

“In the process, the defendant denied that he signed for the approval or release of the money.

“The defendant also denied receiving any letter from SGF. He also stated that the signature on the documents that related to the approval and release of the money was not his,” the witness said.

Eloho told the court that one Jibril Abubakar appeared before the investigation panel and admitted collecting the $6.2m from the Abuja branch of the CBN.

He added that although Abubakar claimed to be a staff member in the Office of the SGF, an investigation later revealed that he was never an employee of the office.

The witness further stated that despite Abubakar’s alleged confession, he was not aware that the suspect was standing trial in any court.

He also said one Bashirudeen Maishanu, a staff member of the CBN, was interrogated and allegedly confessed to being among those who stole the money.

Eloho said he was also not aware of Maishanu’s trial, adding that he would be shocked if the CBN promoted him despite his alleged confession.

When confronted with several exhibits, including correspondence exchanged during the processing, approval and release of the funds, the witness admitted that protocol was breached within the management hierarchy of the CBN.

He said that under normal circumstances, correspondence from the CBN governor ought to pass to the deputy governor before moving down the administrative chain.

Answering questions on the statement made by former SGF Boss Mustapha to investigators, Eloho said it was the special investigator, Jim Obaze, who was present when Mustapha claimed that his signature was forged.

On the forensic examination conducted on Mustapha’s signature to verify the alleged forgery, the witness admitted that it would have been desirable to conduct a similar forensic examination on Emefiele’s signature.

The matter was adjourned till July 3 for the continuation of the trial.