Court rejects delay tactics in Emefiele’s naira redesign trial
By Olakunle Oke
The Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, declined a request by the defence team of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to adjourn proceedings in his ongoing trial over the alleged unlawful redesign and printing of the naira.
Emefiele is standing trial before Justice Maryanne Anineh on a four-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), bordering on the unlawful printing of new naira notes.
At the resumed hearing, prosecution counsel, Abbas Mohammed, informed the court that the matter was slated for the continuation of cross-examination of the seventh prosecution witness (PW7), who was present in court. However, defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, objected and applied for an adjournment.
Ojo told the court that during the previous sitting, he requested for the statement made by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, which he intended to use for cross-examination. He said the prosecution only made the six-page document available to the defence about 20 minutes before proceedings, contrary to standard practice which requires disclosure at least 24 to 48 hours earlier.
According to the defence counsel, neither he nor the defendant had sufficient time to study the document. He therefore urged the court, being a court of record, to grant an adjournment in the interest of justice.
In his response, Mohammed dismissed claims of deliberate delay, explaining that the investigation report was demanded during the last sitting and was meant to be produced in court through the witness. He urged the court to order the defence to proceed with cross-examination, noting that there would be other opportunities to address issues arising from the document.
Ruling on the application, Justice Anineh refused the request for adjournment and directed that the cross-examination of PW7 should continue.
During cross-examination, PW7 confirmed that an email exchange between the Managing Director of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company and De La Rue was obtained by the EFCC from the Managing Director himself, identified as Ahmed Halilu. He stated that while the Managing Director made statements to investigators, he could not recall the exact number.
The witness admitted that he could not remember whether his team inquired if the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company had previously designed currency in Nigeria, nor could he state precisely when investigations were concluded.
PW7 also told the court that although the EFCC made inquiries from the CBN regarding the quantity of redesigned naira notes released to commercial banks, he did not have the figures available and was unsure if they were documented.
He further disclosed that EFCC-led task forces, alongside other law enforcement agencies, were deployed across the country to ensure the availability of the new notes over the counter, but said he could not be specific about cases of currency hoarding or arrests made, as he was not physically present during all operations.
An objection arose when the defence sought to question the witness on arrests and sanctions against erring banks. While the prosecution argued that such issues were outside the scope of the charge, the defence maintained that cross-examination was not limited to evidence-in-chief.
The witness eventually stated that he was not aware of any sanctions imposed on banks, nor was he privy to the specific instructions under which the EFCC acted during the nationwide visits.
The defence again sought an adjournment, citing the absence of the original statement of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company. The prosecution countered that the Managing Director had already testified as PW2 and that all relevant documents were before the court.
Justice Anineh subsequently adjourned the case to March 19; April 1 and 2; May 11 and 12; and June 9 and 10, 2026, for the continuation of trial.