Former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele suffered another legal setback on Monday as the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, admitted additional documentary evidence in his ongoing trial over the controversial naira redesign policy.
Justice Maryanne Anineh admitted several newspaper publications tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as part of the prosecution’s case against the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor.
The documents, which included certified copies of reports published by The Punch, ThisDay, Vanguard, Daily Sun and The Nation, were presented before the court alongside receipts showing payment for the newspaper purchases.
Leading the prosecution’s eighth witness (PW8), Jegede Oluwasegun, an official of the National Library of Nigeria, EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), explained that the documents were produced in response to an earlier request by the defence team.
According to Oyedepo, the defence had filed a motion on March 31, 2026, requesting all press releases and newspaper publications relating to the alleged unlawful naira redesign.
The prosecution subsequently obtained and certified the newspaper reports through the National Library before presenting them in court.
The documents were admitted in evidence without objection from Emefiele’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN).
During cross-examination, the witness clarified that his role at the National Library was limited to attending to information requests and certifying newspaper publications.
Oluwasegun told the court that he was neither the author of the newspaper reports nor in a position to speak on the accuracy or substance of their contents.
“My duty is simply to certify the newspaper documents,” he stated.
Emefiele is currently facing a four-count charge filed by the EFCC over allegations linked to the controversial redesign and printing of new naira notes during his tenure as CBN governor.
The naira redesign policy, introduced under the former administration, triggered nationwide cash shortages, long queues at banks and widespread economic disruption across the country at the time.
The EFCC alleges that aspects of the policy implementation violated due process, an accusation Emefiele has continued to contest before the court.
The matter was subsequently adjourned for continuation of trial proceedings.
