The trial of former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, took a dramatic turn on Tuesday as a Director in the Federal Ministry of Finance told the court that the ministry had no knowledge of a N124.86 billion withdrawal from the apex bank.
Ali Mohammed, who appeared as the 10th prosecution witness (PW10), disclosed this before the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, while being led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Abbas Mohammed.
Mohammed told Justice Maryanne Anineh that he appeared in court after the Ministry of Finance received a letter from the investigation team regarding about N154 billion reportedly withdrawn by the CBN.
Explaining his role, the witness said he heads the Department of Home Finance, which comprises three divisions – State and Public Finance, Trade, and Banking and Other Financial Institutions.
“My Lord, the Department of Home Finance is made up of three functions based in three divisions, that is State and Public Finance, Trade Division and Banking and Other Financial Institutions. The three divisions are under me,” he told the court.
He said upon receiving the letter from investigators, he contacted all three divisions under his supervision to confirm if any was aware of the transaction, but none of them had any record of it.
According to him, the State and Public Finance Investment Division is the relevant division that oversees matters relating to the CBN, but it also denied knowledge of the withdrawal.
Mohammed said he then wrote through the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) to verify whether it was aware of the transaction.
He explained that the step was necessary because, as a civil servant, the Minister of Finance does not make direct payments, while the OAGF is responsible for all payments on behalf of the Federal Government.
The witness told the court that the OAGF responded in writing that it was also not aware of the N124.86 billion transaction and clarified that the money was a direct credit from the CBN.
“I responded via a memo of what has transpired between my office and that of the AGF and sought for clearance for such document to be forwarded to the Special Investigator. Subsequently, the letter was forwarded,” he said.
Mohammed said the documents forwarded to the Special Investigator included a letter bearing the logo of the Federal Ministry of Finance which he signed, and an attached letter signed by the Accountant-General of the Federation.
The prosecution showed the documents to the witness in court and he identified them, after which the prosecution sought to tender them as evidence.
When asked about the original copies, Mohammed said they had been forwarded to the Special Investigator, and therefore sought to tender Certified True Copies (CTCs).
Defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, said he had no objection to their admission.
Justice Maryanne Anineh subsequently admitted the documents in evidence and marked them as Exhibits AJ, AK and AL.
Explaining the exhibits, Mohammed said Exhibit AJ showed that the Federal Ministry of Finance was unaware of the withdrawal of N124.86 billion, while Exhibit AL was a confirmation from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation that it was also unaware of the transaction.
The case has been adjourned for continuation of trial as the prosecution continues to present witnesses to prove allegations of financial misconduct against the former CBN governor.
