“$6.23Bn for Election Observers”: EFCC witness says CBN vault drained under Emefiele, Buhari’s signature forged

“$6.23Bn for Election Observers”: EFCC witness says CBN vault drained under Emefiele, Buhari’s signature forged

A bombshell testimony rocked the trial of former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele on Monday, as a prosecution witness told the FCT High Court that $6.23 billion was allegedly siphoned from the Central Bank under the pretext of funding foreign observers for the 2023 general election.

Chinedu Eneanya, the 13th prosecution witness, appeared before Justice Hamza Muazu in Maitama, Abuja. Emefiele faces an amended 20-count charge from the EFCC covering criminal breach of trust, forgery, abuse of office and related offences.

Led by EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Eneanya told the court he was on the team that investigated the defendant. He said probe findings showed the $6.23 billion was withdrawn from CBN coffers, supposedly to bankroll foreign election observers.

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Several individuals connected to the transaction were invited and questioned, he testified. Documents that authorized the release were recovered from the apex bank.

But the paperwork carried a fatal flaw, according to the witness. Forensic analysis showed the signatures of former President Muhammadu Buhari and ex-Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha were forged to push the approval through.

“The signatures attributed to both officials were not genuine,” Eneanya said.

Under cross-examination by defence counsel Matthew Burkaa, SAN, Eneanya disclosed that five CBN officials who signed the internal memo tied to the release had been suspended by the bank.

Tensions flared over the pace of the trial. The defence urged Justice Muazu to foreclose the prosecution’s case if it fails to produce its final two witnesses at the next hearing, accusing the EFCC of deliberate delay.

The prosecution pushed back, blaming the holdup on logistical hurdles. The outstanding witnesses are outside the court’s jurisdiction, in Benin City and Lagos, and have been hard to secure.

Justice Muazu told both sides to save arguments on the foreclosure request for final address. He ordered the prosecution to liaise with the court registrar to issue subpoenas compelling the witnesses to appear.

The case resumes April 28, 2026.

From alleged forged presidential approval to billions moved in the name of election monitoring, the witness testimony places the CBN at the centre of what prosecutors describe as one of Nigeria’s largest financial heists.