Elizabeth O.
How Emefiele Approved Payment of $6,230,000 for International Election Observers — Witness
The witness disclosed details of how the former CBN boss authorized a cash payment of $6,230,000 (Six Million, Two Hundred and Thirty Thousand Dollars) to international election observers for the 2023 general election.
Michael made the revelation while testifying at the ongoing trial of Emefiele.
The former CBN boss is standing trial before Justice Muazu on 20-count amended charges bordering on corrupt advantages, conspiracy, and criminal breach of trust, forgery and obtaining by false pretences to the tune of $6,230,000.00 (Six Million, Two Hundred and Thirty Thousand United States Dollar).
At the resumed trial on Monday, Michael, the witness, a former branch controller of the CBN, Abuja branch, led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, identified the documents presented to him by the prosecution adding that he worked on the documents.
According to him, on January 8, 2023, a request for payment in the sum of $6,230,000 came to his office and documents for the disbursement of the money were approved by the then CBN boss in cash for international election observers.
“My Lord, all requests for payments are usually channelled to the branch controller and that is my office. And on that day, my Lord, the request to my office was $6,230,000 and my attention was drawn towards it by my office assistant.
It came from the banking services department and the memo carried the signature of the Director, Banking Services, with an instruction to the branch controller to pay the sum of $6,230,000 to a staff of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, bearing the name and identity card of the person.
