Nigeria court: EFCC witness says ex-CBN governor Godwin Emefiele not linked to $6.2 million fraud

During proceedings at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Commissioner of Police Okpoziakpo Eloho testified that former Central Bank of Nigeria governor Godwin Emefiele neither approved nor received any of the $6.23 million released for a purported foreign election observer mission. Eloho said investigations found no evidence that the money was deposited into Emefiele’s accounts or that he benefitted from the funds.

The witness identified Jibril Abubakar, who was not an employee of the Secretary to the Government, as the individual who collected the cash from the CBN’s Abuja branch, and noted that a staff member, Bashirudeen Maishanu, also confessed to stealing part of the sum. About $800,000 of the diverted funds was reportedly recovered. Eloho highlighted a breach of protocol in the approval chain, which bypassed the deputy governor. The trial was adjourned until 3 July 2026 for further proceedings.