RismadarVoice Reporters
October 20, 2026
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has urged the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja to reject the no-case submission filed by former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, insisting that sufficient evidence has been presented to warrant his defence.
The prosecution made the argument on Tuesday before Justice Hamza Mu’azu at the Maitama Division of the court, where Emefiele is facing an amended 20-count charge involving alleged criminal breach of trust, forgery, abuse of office, conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence.
The charges include the alleged fraudulent withdrawal of $6.23 million from the CBN and irregularities in contracts awarded during Emefiele’s tenure.
Prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, argued that the evidence presented established a prima facie case requiring the former governor to respond to the allegations.
Oyedepo maintained that a no-case submission was intended to determine whether sufficient evidence existed for a defendant to enter a defence, rather than establish guilt at that stage.
Addressing the procurement allegations, the prosecutor claimed that contracts involving companies associated with Emefiele’s relatives and associates were approved without undergoing the required scrutiny.
He identified Architekon Nigeria Limited among the companies under investigation, alleging that documentary evidence linked the firm to members of the former governor’s family.
The prosecution further alleged that certain contracts worth millions of dollars bypassed the CBN’s Major Contracts Tender Board, contrary to established procurement procedures.
Oyedepo argued that the alleged irregularities deprived competing companies of fair opportunities and could constitute an abuse of public office, irrespective of whether the contracts were eventually executed.
On the disputed $6.23 million withdrawal, the EFCC alleged that forged documents purportedly bearing the authorisation of former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, were used to facilitate the release of funds supposedly intended for foreign election observers in 2023.
The prosecutor referred to witness testimonies and forensic evidence which, according to the commission, raised questions about the authenticity of the documents and Emefiele’s alleged involvement.
However, defence counsel Matthew Burkaa, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, maintained that the prosecution had failed to establish the essential elements of the offences.
Burkaa challenged the allegation that Emefiele conferred corrupt advantages on his wife and associates, arguing that the evidence did not justify requiring his client to enter a defence.
Earlier testimony in the proceedings also established that investigators did not recover the disputed $6.23 million directly from Emefiele.
The defence has consistently denied the allegations and maintained that the prosecution’s case rests on insufficient evidence.
After hearing the parties’ arguments, the court indicated that a date for its ruling on the no-case submission would be communicated.
The ruling will determine whether Emefiele must enter his defence or whether the prosecution’s case should be terminated at this stage.
Emefiele has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and no finding of criminal liability has been made against him in the proceedings.
