The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday presented several newspaper publications as evidence in the ongoing trial of former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, over the controversial naira redesign policy.
The documents were submitted before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja as part of the prosecution’s case against Emefiele, who is facing allegations related to abuse of office, disobedience to the law, and actions said to have negatively affected Nigerians.
The newspaper reports were introduced through a witness from the National Library of Nigeria, Jegede Oluwasegun, who appeared in court following a subpoena.
Emefiele is currently standing trial on a four-count charge filed by the EFCC. The anti-graft agency accused him of approving the printing of new N1,000 notes without following the required legal process.
According to the charges, between October 2022 and March 2023, the former CBN governor allegedly authorised the production of more than 375 million redesigned N1,000 notes valued at over N11 billion without approval from the CBN Board and the President, as required by law.
The EFCC argued that the action violated provisions of the CBN Act and caused hardship and injury to the public.
However, Emefiele has denied all allegations and pleaded not guilty before the court.
During the hearing, EFCC lawyer Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, presented copies of newspapers including Punch, ThisDay, Vanguard, Daily Sun, and The Nation, together with certification documents from the National Library.
The court accepted the publications as exhibits after Emefiele’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, raised no objection.
While being questioned by the defence, the National Library official clarified that he only certified the newspapers and was not responsible for writing the stories published in them.
He told the court that he could not personally confirm the accuracy of the reports because he was not the author of the publications.
Justice Maryanne Anenih later adjourned the case until May 12 for continuation of the trial.