A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has scheduled ten fresh dates to conclude the trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, on corruption charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the naira redesign.

Justice Maryann Anenih fixed the dates on Wednesday following a consensus between the EFCC’s counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, and Emefiele’s counsel, Mr. Olalekan Ojo, SAN.

The new trial dates 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 on these dates.

Justice Anenih urged both parties to adhere strictly to the schedule, assuring that the court would provide the necessary accommodations during the proceedings.

At Wednesday’s session, an EFCC witness, Mr. Emere Chinedu, admitted that the Presidency, under former President Muhammadu Buhari, had granted approval to Emefiele to redesign the naira notes. However, the letter from the Presidency instructed that the printing of the new notes be carried out locally, contrary to the printing done abroad by the former CBN governor.

Chinedu, who led the inter-agency probe panel investigating Emefiele, stated that the former CBN governor made six separate extrajudicial statements in his defense on October 26, 27, 30, and 31, as well as November 1 and 2, 2023.

He explained, “In the course of our investigation, we extended our probe to the State House for records of approval for the naira redesign. The State House communicated its response to the EFCC in writing. Approval was granted, but the naira notes were required to be printed locally.”

During cross-examination, Emefiele’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, questioned Chinedu about Emefiele’s claim that former EFCC Chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa first suggested the naira redesign to the President. The witness declined to comment, stating that the EFCC does not have the authority to propose changes to the naira’s color, which can only be advisory.

Chinedu also addressed video clips from various television stations showing Nigerians expressing hardship due to the naira redesign, which were presented by the EFCC. He confirmed that the videos existed before his panel’s investigation, were downloaded from the internet, and were used to illustrate the difficulties Nigerians faced. He added that he did not interview any staff from the television stations.

Emefiele is facing prosecution in the case marked FTC/HC/CR/264/2024 and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Further cross-examination of the EFCC witness has been adjourned to February 3 by Justice Anenih.