Alleged Unlawful Naira Redesign: Court Admits More Exhibits Against Emefiele

Justice Maryanne Anineh of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Monday admitted in evidence several newspaper publications tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the ongoing trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, over the alleged unlawful redesign of the naira.

The exhibits were presented through the eighth prosecution witness (PW8), Jegede Oluwasegun, an official of the National Library of Nigeria.

While leading the witness in evidence, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, tendered certified copies of publications from The Punch, ThisDay, Vanguard, Daily Sun and The Nation newspapers, alongside payment receipts for the purchase of the publications.

Oyedepo told the court that the presentation of the witness and the documents followed a motion on notice filed by the defence on March 31, 2026, requesting the prosecution to produce all press releases and newspaper publications relating to the alleged unlawful act.

The documents were subsequently admitted in evidence without objection from the defence counsel.

During cross-examination by defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, the witness explained that his responsibilities at the National Library were limited to attending to readers’ information needs and certifying newspaper documents.

He stated that he was neither the author of the publications nor in a position to comment on their contents.

“My schedule of duty is to attend to information needs of readers and certification of newspaper documents,” the witness said, adding that his role was “simply to certify newspapers.”

Emefiele is being prosecuted by the EFCC on a four-count charge bordering on the alleged unlawful printing of new naira notes.