A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Okpoziakpo Eloho, on Thursday told the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Asion, Division, that the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, did not benefit from the $6,230,000 stolen from the apex bank.
The witness, a commissioner at the Fraud Unit of the Force Headquarters, Abuja, admitted that there was no evidence that Emefiele benefited either in cash or in a transfer into his account by those who admitted stealing the money.
Eloho clarified during cross-examination by Mr Mathew Burka, SAN, lead counsel to the defendant.
Emefiele is being prosecuted by the anti-graft agency on alleged procurement fraud and abuse of office before Justice Hamza Muazu.
At Thursday’s proceedings, Eloho, the police investigator of the former CBN boss, stated that Emefiele, in the statement he made to the team of investigators, denied giving authorisation for the release of the money to anybody. ever
The witness also said that the defendant had never received any letter from the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Bpha, acting on any such letter in relation to the alleged stealing.
Answering a question, CP Eloho admitted that one Jibril Abubakar appeared before his probe panel during the investigation and admitted to collecting the $6.2 million from the Abuja branch of the CBN.
He also said that none of those interviewed or investigated in respect of the money told the investigators that the defendant benefited in one way or the other.
The police commissioner said that although Jibril Abubakar claimed to be staff in the office of the SGF, an investigation later showed that he was never an employee of the SGF office.
The witness further stated that despite the confession of Abubakar that he collected the money from the apex bank, he (witness) was not aware of the trial of Abubakar in any law court.
Also answering a question, the EFCC witness claimed that one Bashirudeen Maishanu, a staff member of the CBN, was also interrogated, and he confessed to being one of those who stole the money.
The witness further stated that he was not aware of the trial of the said Maishanu and that he would be shocked if the man were promoted by CBN in spite of his confession to stealing the money.
When confronted with a series of exhibits, especially correspondences exchanged during the processing, approval and release of the looted fund, the witness admitted that protocol was breached going by the hierarchy of the management of the apex bank, adding that under normal circumstances correspondence from the CBN governor ought to go to the deputy governor and from there downwards.
“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 did not sign 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.”
Answering another question on the statement made by former SGF Boss Mustapha to the investigators, the witness told the court that it was the special investigator, Jim Obaze, who was present when Boss Mustapha claimed his signature was forged.
On the forensic examination carried out by EFCC on the signature of Boss Mustapha to verify the alleged forgery, the witness told the court that it would have been desirable to carry out similar forensic examinations on Emefiele’s signature the way it was done to Boss Mustapha.
The trial continues July 3.
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