A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja has fixed multiple hearing dates to conclude the trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria Gov. Godwin Emefiele over charges linked to the naira redesign, prosecutors said Wednesday.
Justice Maryann Anenih scheduled 10 hearing dates between February and June after lawyers for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Emefiele reached an agreement on an accelerated trial timetable.
The dates are Feb. 3 and 10; April 1 and 2; May 11, 12, 13 and 14; and June 9 and 10. The court said the trial, which began in 2024, is expected to be concluded by June.
Justice Anenih urged counsel on both sides to comply strictly with the schedule, assuring them that the court would make arrangements to accommodate the hearings.
At Wednesday’s resumed proceedings, an EFCC witness, Emere Chinedu, told the court that the Presidency under the late former President Muhammadu Buhari approved the redesign of the naira.
Chinedu, an operative of the commission who headed the inter-agency probe panel investigating Emefiele, said the approval was conveyed to the EFCC in writing following an inquiry by the commission. He added that the approval came with a condition that the redesigned notes be printed locally, contrary to claims that they were produced abroad during Emefiele’s tenure.
“The State House gave approval for the naira redesign, but with a proviso that it must be done locally,” Chinedu said.
The witness also testified that Emefiele made six extra-judicial statements before the probe panel on Oct. 26, 27, 30 and 31, and on Nov. 1 and 2, 2023.
Under cross-examination, Chinedu declined to comment on Emefiele’s claim that a former EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, initially suggested the naira redesign to President Buhari. He said the EFCC has no authority to propose changes to the naira’s design and could only play an advisory role.
Chinedu further confirmed that video clips showing hardship experienced by Nigerians during the naira redesign, which were tendered by the prosecution, existed before the probe panel was constituted. He said the videos were downloaded from the internet to illustrate alleged difficulties faced by the public and that no staff of the television stations that produced the clips were interviewed.
Emefiele is standing trial under charge No. FCT/HC/CR/264/2024 and has pleaded not guilty.
Justice Anenih adjourned the case until Feb. 3 for the continuation of cross-examination of the EFCC witness.
