FCT HIGH COURT SETS DATES TO CONCLUDE EMEFIELE NAIRA REDESIGN TRIAL

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Justice Maryanne Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court has fixed fresh trial dates to conclude the corruption case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele, over the naira redesign.

The new dates, agreed upon by counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), and Emefiele’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), are February 3 and 10; April 1 and 2; May 11, 12, 13, and 14; and June 9 and 10. The trial, which commenced in 2024, is expected to conclude during this period.

Justice Anenih urged both parties to adhere to the schedule, assuring that the court would accommodate them appropriately.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, EFCC witness Emere Chinedu, who led the Inter-Agency Probe Panel investigating Emefiele, testified that the Presidency under President Muhammadu Buhari approved the naira redesign but stipulated that the printing of the new notes must be done locally, not abroad. Chinedu noted that Emefiele made six separate extra-judicial statements between October 26 and November 2, 2023, to present his defence.

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On cross-examination, the witness declined to confirm Emefiele’s claim that former EFCC Chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa suggested the naira redesign to President Buhari, stating that the EFCC has no authority to propose currency colour changes and can only provide advisory input.

Chinedu also addressed a series of video clips showing Nigerians’ hardships during the naira redesign, acknowledging that the videos existed before the probe and were downloaded from the internet by his panel. He admitted he did not interview staff from the television stations that aired the footage.

Justice Anenih adjourned the cross-examination of Chinedu by Emefiele’s counsel to February 3, 2026.