The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday presented several newspaper publications as evidence in the ongoing trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, over allegations linked to the controversial naira redesign policy.
The documents were tendered before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory through a witness from the National Library of Nigeria, Jegede Oluwasegun.
Emefiele is currently facing a four-count charge filed by the EFCC, bordering on alleged disobedience to the law and actions said to have caused harm to the public during the implementation of the naira redesign policy.
According to the anti-graft agency, Emefiele allegedly approved the printing of over 375 million pieces of redesigned N1,000 notes between October 2022 and March 2023 without following the provisions of the CBN Act, including obtaining recommendations from the CBN board and proper presidential approval.
The EFCC claimed the action cost over N11bn and violated Section 19 of the CBN Act.
During Monday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), presented copies of newspapers including Punch, ThisDay, Vanguard, Daily Sun, and The Nation, along with certification receipts from the National Library.
The witness explained that his role was strictly to certify the publications as official records kept by the National Library.
Counsel to Emefiele, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), did not oppose the admission of the documents, and the court accepted them as exhibits.
While being cross-examined, the witness admitted he could not confirm the accuracy of the contents of the newspapers since he was not the author of the reports.
“What I do is to certify the newspapers. I cannot say 100 per cent that the contents are correct because I did not write them,” he told the court.
The defence later tendered a ThisDay publication dated January 31, 2023, alongside its certification, which was also admitted by the court without objection from the prosecution.
Justice Maryanne Anenih subsequently adjourned the case for continuation of trial.
