$6.23m Fraud: EFCC Opposes EMEFIELE's 'No-Case' Submission

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has opposed a no-case submission by former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, GODWIN EMEFIELE, in his trial for alleged Six-Point-Two-Million-Dollar fraud.

This is the latest development in the case before Justice HAMZA MU’AZU of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, sitting in the Maitama area of Abuja, when the matter came up again for consideration on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.

The EFCC accused EMEFIELE of criminal breach of trust, forgery, abuse of office, conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence, including the alleged withdrawal of Six-Point-Two Million Dollars, as well as conferment of corrupt advantage in the award of CBN contracts.

However, in the motion before the court, the defence lawyer, MATHEW BURKAA, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, urged the court to discharge EMEFIELE, arguing that the prosecution failed to establish the essential ingredients of the alleged offences in the amended twenty-count charge the EFCC brought against his client.

In his response, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, ROTIMI OYEDEPO, argued that the purpose of calling on EMEFIELE to enter his defence would not amount to asking him to prove his innocence but an opportunity to answer issues raised by the prosecution’s evidence.

OYEDEPO, who is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, told the court that exhibits bearing EMEFIELE’s approval signatures, alongside corporate records, linked the defendant to companies associated with his wife and brother-in-law, including Architekon Nigeria Limited.

He particularly noted that the Six-Point-Two Million Dollars involved in the case was withdrawn from the CBN between February and June, before EMEFIELE’s removal from office, purportedly on the strength of letters bearing forged signatures of former President MUHAMMADU BUHARI and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, BOSS MUSTAPHA.