iDeemlawfulA High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has set 10 new hearing dates to wrap up the trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, over charges linked to the naira redesign.
The trial judge, Justice Maryann Anenih, fixed the dates on Wednesday after both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Emefiele’s defence team reached an agreement.
The dates slated are February 3 and 10; April 1 and 2; May 11–14; and June 9 and 10, within which the court said the trial, which began in 2024, would be concluded.
Justice Anenih advised counsel on both sides to comply strictly with the timetable, assuring that the court would make sufficient arrangements to ensure smooth proceedings.
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At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, EFCC witness Emere Chinedu, who led the inter-agency panel that investigated Emefiele, told the court that the Presidency under former President Muhammadu Buhari approved the naira redesign, with the condition that the printing be carried out locally.
He alleged that the redesigned currency notes were printed outside the country during Emefiele’s tenure.
Chinedu also told the court that Emefiele made six extra-judicial statements to the probe panel between October 26 and November 2, 2023.
During cross-examination, the witness declined to address Emefiele’s claim that former EFCC Chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa initially proposed the redesign to Buhari, stating that the EFCC lacked the mandate to suggest changes to the naira’s colour.
“The State House gave approval for the naira redesign, but with a proviso that it must be done locally,” Chinedu told the court.
He further confirmed that video clips tendered by the EFCC, which depicted hardships faced by Nigerians during the redesign, were sourced from the internet and predated the establishment of the probe panel.
Chinedu added that staff of the television stations that produced the clips were not questioned.
Emefiele, who is standing trial under charge number FCT/HC/CR/264/2024, has pleaded not guilty.
Justice Anenih adjourned the case to February 3 for the continuation of cross-examination of the EFCC witness.