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A prosecution witness on Wednesday told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that Godwin Emefiele, former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, breached provisions of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act in the 2022 naira redesign exercise.

Testifying before Maryanne Anineh, Justice of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, Chinedu Eneanya, the seventh prosecution witness (PW7), alleged that the former apex bank chief failed to follow due process in implementing the currency redesign.

Emefiele is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a four-count charge bordering on the alleged unlawful printing of new naira notes.

Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo, Eneanya told the court that findings from the EFCC’s investigation revealed that the redesign exercise did not comply with statutory requirements.

According to him, the Central Bank of Nigeria is mandated by the CBN Act, 2007 to obtain recommendations from its board before embarking on a currency redesign.

“The investigation conducted by the team showed that the defendant disobeyed the provisions of the Act,” the witness stated, adding that board approval is a critical legal step in such a process.

Eneanya further testified that Emefiele presented three sample designs of the proposed N1,000, N500, and N200 notes to former President Muhammadu Buhari for approval.

He said the president approved one of the designs and directed that the currency be produced locally.

However, the witness claimed that the final printed notes differed from what was originally presented.

“The president approved on the 11th page and directed that the design be done locally. Investigation showed that what was eventually produced was not what was presented to the president,” Eneanya told the court.

The witness also revealed that the original naira designs were historically handled by De La Rue, a United Kingdom-based firm, while confirming that the new notes were eventually printed locally.

He identified Exhibit N1 as the statement made by Ahmed Aliyu, Managing Director of the Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company Limited (NSPMC), and noted that the EFCC verified payments made by the CBN to the company for the production of the redesigned currency.

When questioned about the scope of the investigation, Eneanya disclosed that while members of the CBN Board were not directly invited, the Commission obtained a statement from the official in charge of the bank’s Corporate Secretariat.

During re-examination, prosecution counsel Abbas Mohammed sought to clarify whether former President Buhari’s directive applied to the design or production of the currency.

In response, the witness maintained that the redesigned notes had already been prepared and presented for presidential approval.

“Investigation shows that the design of the currency was already shown to the president and it was approved,” he said.

Following the proceedings, Anineh adjourned the case to May 11, 2026, for continuation of trial.