ABUJA — A Director in the Federal Ministry of Finance, Ali Mohammed, has told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, that the ministry was not aware of a ₦124.86 billion withdrawal from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Mohammed, who appeared as prosecution witness 10 in the ongoing trial of former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele, made the disclosure while testifying under questioning from prosecution counsel, Abbas Mohammed.
Emefiele is facing a four-count charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged disobedience to lawful directives and unlawful acts allegedly connected to the controversial naira redesign policy.
Ministry Investigates Transaction
Mohammed told the court that he appeared as a witness after the Finance Ministry received a letter from an investigation team concerning a larger sum of ₦154 billion reportedly withdrawn by the CBN.
He explained that the Department of Home Finance, which he supervises, consists of three divisions: State and Public Finance, Trade, and Banking and Other Financial Institutions.
After receiving the investigator’s letter, Mohammed said he contacted the three divisions to determine whether any of them had knowledge of the transaction.
According to him, none of the divisions was aware of it.
He identified the State and Public Finance Investment Division as particularly relevant because of its responsibility for matters involving the CBN.
Accountant-General Also Unaware
Mohammed told the court that he subsequently contacted the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) through the appropriate administrative channel.
He explained that the Federal Ministry of Finance does not ordinarily make direct payments to individuals or organisations. He therefore wrote through the Permanent Secretary to the Accountant-General’s office to establish whether it had knowledge of the transaction.
The witness said the OAGF responded that it was not aware of the transaction.
He said the response indicated that the money represented a direct credit from the CBN rather than a transaction authorised through the normal government payment process.
“I responded via a memo of what has transpired between my office and that of the AGF and sought for clearance for such document to be forwarded to the Special Investigator,” Mohammed told the court.
Court Admits Ministry Documents
The witness identified documents relating to the inquiries when they were presented to him in court.
The prosecution subsequently sought to tender certified true copies of the documents after Mohammed explained that the originals had already been forwarded to the Special Investigator.
Defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, did not object to their admission.
Justice Maryanne Anineh consequently admitted the documents and marked them as Exhibits AJ, AK and AL.
While examining Exhibit AJ, the prosecution asked Mohammed to explain its significance.
He said the document established that the Finance Ministry had no knowledge of the ₦124.86 billion withdrawal.
Withdrawal Described As Direct Debit
Mohammed also explained an entry in Exhibit AJ which classified the transaction as a direct debit by the CBN.
According to him, the phrase meant that the money had been withdrawn from the CBN without recourse to another government office.
He further told the court that, under normal circumstances, the Accountant-General’s office would receive appropriate instructions before funds were withdrawn through the Federal Government’s established payment channels.
The witness said the document did not show that the Finance Ministry had instructed the Accountant-General to make the withdrawal, particularly from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
CBN Witness Identifies Email
Earlier in the proceedings, another prosecution witness, Hamisu Abdullahi, Director of Banking Services at the CBN, continued his testimony.
The prosecution referred him to an email he had mentioned during cross-examination on May 4, 2026.
Abdullahi confirmed that he remembered the email and explained that it had been generated from the CBN’s computer system.
He said the document had been certified as a true copy, signed and accompanied by a certificate of compliance.
According to the witness, the email communicated a directive from the then CBN governor concerning the recovery of a ₦1.4 billion debit in a receivables account from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
Abdullahi identified the document when it was presented in court.
The prosecution subsequently tendered the email and accompanying certificate, which Justice Anineh admitted as Exhibits AH1 and AH2.
Trial Adjourned To October 7
Following the admission of the documents and the completion of questions for Abdullahi, the court discharged the witness from the witness box.
Justice Anineh thereafter adjourned the case to October 7, 2026, for the cross-examination of Mohammed and continuation of the trial.
The evidence presented so far forms part of the prosecution’s case against Emefiele. The allegations remain subject to determination by the court as the proceedings continue.
