The First Prosecution Witness, PW1, in the ongoing trial of former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, has testified before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Maitama, Abuja about the ex-CBN boss approving the payment of $6,230,000 in cash for international election observers during the last 2023 general election.
Michael, a former branch controller of the CBN, Abuja branch, revealed the details of the approval and the documents presented to him by the prosecution.
Emefiele is standing trial on 20-count amended charges including corrupt advantages, conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery, and obtaining by false pretences to the tune of $6,230,000.00.
The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, presented the documents to Michael, who identified and worked on them.
The documents revealed that the payment was for election observance and had the approval of the then-Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the then-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The payment was made on April 8, 2023, in cash, and Michael confirmed that he could identify the document because it also carries his signature.
Mr. Oyedepo sought to tender all six documents as exhibits but defence counsel, Mathew Bukka, SAN, objected.
The matter was adjourned till February 13, 2024, for continuation of trial.
