Emefiele Trial: Witness Tells Court How $6.23m Was Instantly Withdrawn from CBN with Forged Documents

A prosecution witness on Thursday narrated before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, how $6.23 million was withdrawn in cash from the Garki Branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) using forged documents purportedly approved for election-related logistics.

Testifying in the ongoing trial of former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, the Eleventh Prosecution Witness, PW11, Bashirudden Muhammed Maishanu, an Assistant Director at the apex bank, told Justice Hamza Muazu that the withdrawal was carried out on February 8, 2023, allegedly under the guise of funding election observers.

Led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecution, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the witness disclosed that he became involved after being approached in early January 2023 by one Alhaji Ahmed, who claimed to be working with a special committee in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). According to him, Ahmed said the transaction was based on presidential approval and later showed him documents said to have authorised the payment.

Maishanu told the court that on February 8, 2023, a friend of his, accompanied by a driver, proceeded to the Garki Branch of the CBN where the sum of $6.23 million was paid in cash. He said Ahmed allegedly left with $2.5 million, while the remaining amount was kept by his friends.

The witness further stated that he later became suspicious of the transaction due to the volume of cash involved and subsequently discovered that the documents used were forged. He maintained that the CBN operates strict payment processes and that such a large cash withdrawal could only have been facilitated through fraudulent means.

Under cross-examination, PW11 admitted he did not witness the signing of the approval but insisted that internal CBN documents could trace all officials involved in the transaction. He also disclosed that the money was said to be for election-related expenses, specifically for election overseers.

Justice Muazu adjourned the matter to Friday, January 30, 2026, for continuation of trial.