Emefiele Trial: Witness Says $6.23m Withdrawn From CBN With Forged Documents

A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, on Thursday told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja that $6.23 million was withdrawn from the apex bank using forged documents.

The witness, Bashirudden Maishanu, an assistant director at the CBN and the 11th prosecution witness (PW11), gave the testimony while being led in evidence by Rotimi Oyedepo, Director of Public Prosecutions at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Maishanu appeared before Justice Hamza Muazu, who is presiding over the case instituted by the EFCC against Emefiele.

According to the witness, the sum of $6.23 million was withdrawn from the Garki branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria on February 8, 2023. He told the court that the transaction was carried out with documents that were later discovered to be forged.

The testimony forms part of the EFCC’s effort to establish its case against the former CBN governor, who is standing trial over allegations bordering on financial misconduct.

The matter was adjourned for the continuation of trial.