A senior police officer has told a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, approved the payment of $6.23 million linked to foreign election observers.
Commissioner of Police Eloho E. Ekpoziakpho gave the testimony on April 28, 2026, while appearing as prosecution witness in the ongoing fraud trial of Emefiele before Justice Hamza Mu’azu.
The case centres on an amended 20-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, forgery, abuse of office and conspiracy to obtain by false pretence.
Ekpoziakpho told the court that investigations revealed the controversial withdrawal from the Central Bank of Nigeria was carried out with the approval of Emefiele while he was in office.
According to the witness, intelligence gathered during the probe indicated that the $6.23 million was fraudulently taken from a CBN branch in Abuja. He added that the discovery led directly to the interrogation of the former apex bank chief.
The police commissioner, who heads the Special Fraud Unit in Lagos, said he worked alongside special investigator Jim Obazee during the probe. He noted that several suspects questioned in the course of the investigation made confessional statements.
He further told the court that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation denied requesting any payment for foreign election observers.
A key document presented in court was said to have originated from the SGF’s office and conveyed approval from former President Muhammadu Buhari for the payment.
The witness explained that the document, dated January 26, 2023, was addressed to Emefiele and directed the CBN to release the funds. He added that the document was honoured and the payment was eventually made on February 8, 2023.
Further exhibits included payment details confirming the disbursement of the $6.23 million and an internal memo from the CBN’s Director of Banking Services authorising the transaction.
During proceedings, defence counsel challenged the admissibility of oral evidence relating to the documents, citing provisions of the Evidence Act. However, prosecution counsel argued that the documents had already been admitted and could be explained in court.
In his ruling, Justice Mu’azu held that while the witness could be questioned on the documents already before the court, he could not interpret their detailed contents.
The trial has been adjourned to July 2 and 3, 2026 for continuation.
