At the resumption of hearing in the corruption case against former Central Bank of Nigeria governor Godwin Emefiele Monday in Abuja, a senior CBN staff, Michael Onyeka Ogbu revealed why the bank released $6,230,000 for the payment of some international election observers to the 2023 general elections.
Ogbu, who is the CBN deputy director and head of the service delivery, Statd that money was released because documents signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari and Emefiele authorized the payment.
“On that day the request for the payment of $6,230,000 was received in my office by my Office Assistant, who brought it to my attention. When I received the document, I found that it was from the Banking Services Department,” said Ogbu, who is a prosecution witness.
“The Director, Banking Services signed the memo, and the content of the memo contained an instruction for the Branch Controller to pay the sum of $6,230,000 to a staff of the Secretary to the government of the federation, with the identity and the name of the person mentioned.
“The memo said the payment was for international election observers and that we should debit an account – Naira Forex Account – with the naira equivalent of $6,230,000.
“The memo also said that the money will be refunded in the second quarter of 2023 by the Federal Ministry of Finance.
“It went on to say ‘find attached the approval of the governor of the CBN for the payment.’
“The attachment had the approval of the governor of the CBN. It also had the approval of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the request letter from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.”
On whether the money was eventually released, the witness said: “Payment was eventually made. The $6,230,000 was paid on the 8th of September 2023. The payment was in cash.”
“The second page is the memo from the Banking Services Department, authorising the Branch to make the payment of $6,230,000.
“The third page is the request of the Director, Banking Services Department for approval of the Governor for the payment”
Emefiele is being prosecuted on a 20-count amended charge, filed by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), in which he is among others, accused of engaging in criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence and obtaining money by false pretence.
He is, in the amended charge, accused of forging a document titled: Re: Presidential Directive on Foreign Election Observer Missions dated 26 January, 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201 and purported same to have emanated from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to the Governor of the CBN.
Emefiele was alleged to have, on February 8, 2023, knowingly obtained, by false pretence, $6,230,000.00 by falsely representing that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation vide a letter dated 26 January 2023 with Ref No. SGF 43/L.01/201 requested the CBN to provide a contingent logistic advance in the sum of $6,230,000 “in line with Mr. President’s directive.”
Justice Muazu adjourned till February 13 for the continuation of the trial.
