By ifeoma Onyekachi

A prosecution witness on Monday told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, that $6.23 million was allegedly diverted from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under the pretext of funding foreign observers for the 2023 general election.

The witness, Chinedu Eneanya, appeared before Justice Hamza Muazu as the 13th prosecution witness (PW13) in the ongoing trial of former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

Emefiele is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on an amended 20-count charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust, forgery, abuse of office, and conspiracy to obtain money under false pretences.

Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Eneanya told the court that he was part of the investigative team assigned to probe the allegations against the defendant. He said findings from the investigation indicated that the $6.23 million was withdrawn from the CBN’s coffers purportedly to finance foreign election observers.

According to the witness, several individuals linked to the transaction were invited and interrogated, while key documents authorising the release of the funds were obtained from the apex bank.

Eneanya further testified that signatures attributed to former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, were allegedly forged to facilitate the disbursement.

He told the court that forensic analysis conducted on the documents confirmed the signatures were not authentic.

During cross-examination, defence counsel Matthew Burkaa, SAN, questioned the witness on internal procedures, to which Eneanya responded that five CBN officials who endorsed the transaction memo had since been suspended by the bank.

Earlier, Burkaa urged the court to foreclose the prosecution’s case if it failed to produce its remaining two witnesses at the next hearing, alleging undue delay in the trial.

However, Oyedepo opposed the request, explaining that the prosecution had encountered difficulties securing the attendance of the outstanding witnesses, said to be outside the court’s jurisdiction in Benin City and Lagos.

Ruling on the issue, Justice Muazu advised both parties to reserve their arguments until the stage of final addresses. He also directed the prosecution to work with the court registrar to facilitate the issuance of subpoenas for the witnesses.

The case was adjourned to April 28, 2026, for continuation of trial.