A key prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has informed the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that a total sum of $6.23 million was allegedly taken from the apex bank using counterfeit documentation.

The witness, Bashirudden Maishanu, an assistant director at the CBN and the 11th prosecution witness, delivered his testimony on Thursday before Justice Hamza Muazu. The case was filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the former CBN chief.

While being led in evidence by Rotimi Oyedepo, the EFCC’s Director of Public Prosecutions, Maishanu stated that the withdrawal occurred at the CBN’s Garki branch on February 8, 2023.

He told the court that in January 2023, he was contacted by an individual identified as Alhaji Ahmed, who claimed to be part of a special committee operating under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

According to Maishanu, Ahmed explained that he had been instructed by Eric Ocheme, described as Emefiele’s personal assistant during his tenure as CBN governor, to discuss certain financial transactions undergoing processing at the bank.

The witness further testified that Ahmed later asserted that approval had already been secured at the presidential level and that the remaining requirement was the authorization of Godwin Emefiele to complete the transaction.