Alleged Unlawful Naira Redesign: Court Admits Fresh Newspaper Exhibits Against Emefiele

Justice Maryanne Anineh of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Monday admitted additional documentary exhibits in the ongoing trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, over the alleged unlawful naira redesign.

The court admitted certified newspaper publications tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission during the testimony of the eighth prosecution witness, Jegede Oluwasegun, an official of the National Library of Nigeria.

Led in evidence by prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the witness presented certified copies of The Punch, ThisDay, Vanguard, Daily Sun and The Nation containing reports on the alleged unlawful naira redesign, alongside payment receipts for the purchase of the newspapers.

Oyedepo told the court that the documents were produced in compliance with a motion on notice filed by the defence on March 31, 2026, requesting all press releases and newspaper publications relating to the alleged unlawful act.

The documents were tendered and admitted without objection from the defence.

Under cross-examination by defence counsel Olalekan Ojo, SAN, Oluwasegun said his responsibilities at the National Library were limited to attending to readers’ information requests and certifying newspaper documents. He stated that he neither authored the publications nor could testify to their contents.

Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele is facing a four-count charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over the alleged unlawful printing of new naira notes.