The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Monday admitted additional exhibits tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor Godwin Emefiele. The case concerns the alleged unlawful redesign of the naira.
Admission of Exhibits
Justice Maryanne Anineh admitted certified copies of newspaper publications presented by the prosecution during proceedings at the Maitama division of the court. The exhibits were tendered through the eighth prosecution witness, Jegede Oluwasegun, an official of the National Library.
The documents included certified copies of reports published by The Punch, ThisDay, Vanguard, Daily Sun, and The Nation, alongside receipts issued for the purchase of the newspapers.
Prosecution's Argument
Prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo told the court the documents were presented in response to a motion filed by the defence on March 31, 2026. The motion requested the prosecution to produce all press releases and newspaper publications relating to the alleged unlawful act. The exhibits were admitted without objection from defence counsel Olalekan Ojo.
Witness Testimony
During cross-examination, the witness told the court that his responsibilities at the National Library were limited to attending to readers’ information requests and certifying newspaper documents. He stated that he neither authored the publications nor had knowledge of the contents beyond the certification process.
“My duty was simply to certify newspapers,” the witness said.
Background of the Case
Emefiele is being prosecuted by the EFCC on a four-count charge bordering on the alleged unlawful printing and redesign of Nigeria’s naira notes. The naira redesign policy introduced by the CBN in 2022 led to a severe cash shortage across the country, sparking protests, long queues at banks, and legal challenges before the Supreme Court. The former central bank governor has denied wrongdoing in the various corruption-related cases instituted against him since his suspension from office in 2023.
