The trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, continued on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja, following the court’s refusal to grant an adjournment sought by the defence.
Justice Maryanne Anineh ruled that proceedings should continue despite objections raised by defence counsel over the alleged late service of an investigation report relied upon by the prosecution.
Emefiele is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the Federal Capital Territory High Court on a four-count charge bordering on the alleged unlawful printing of redesigned naira notes.
At the resumed hearing, prosecution counsel, Abbas Mohammed, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for the continuation of the cross-examination of the seventh prosecution witness (PW7), who was present in court.
However, defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, objected to proceeding, arguing that the prosecution had only made available a six-page investigation report, said to contain the statement of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, about 20 minutes before proceedings commenced.
Ojo maintained that the document ought to have been served on the defence at least 24 to 48 hours earlier to allow adequate preparation. He further argued that even the defendant had not had sufficient opportunity to review the document, stressing that the court, as a court of record, should not allow such procedural lapses.
In response, Mohammed told the court that the prosecution did not deliberately withhold the document to disadvantage the defence. He explained that the investigation report was demanded during the previous sitting in the course of PW7’s cross-examination and was a document meant to be tendered through the witness in court. The prosecution opposed the adjournment request and urged the court to direct the defence to proceed.
In her ruling, Justice Anineh dismissed the application for adjournment and ordered the continuation of the cross-examination.
Under cross-examination, PW7 testified on an email exchange involving the Managing Director of Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc and De La Rue.
He told the court that the email was provided to the EFCC investigative team by the managing director of the Printing and Minting Company, whom he identified as Ahmed Halilu.
The witness said he could not recall the exact number of statements made by the managing director but confirmed that statements were obtained.
He also admitted that he could not remember whether his team inquired if the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company had previously designed currency in Nigeria.
PW7 further stated that although investigations were conducted nationwide through multiple teams and in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, he could not be specific about the quantities of newly redesigned naira notes released to commercial banks or whether arrests were made in cases where banks allegedly hoarded cash.
When defence counsel sought to probe further into alleged infractions by banks, prosecution counsel objected, arguing that such questions were outside the scope of the charge, which relates strictly to the approval process for the naira redesign. The defence countered that cross-examination is not limited to evidence-in-chief.
The witness eventually told the court that he was not aware of any sanctions imposed on erring banks, nor was he privy to the specific instructions under which the EFCC acted during its nationwide monitoring exercise.
The defence later renewed its request for adjournment on the grounds that the prosecution lacked the original statement of the managing director of the Printing and Minting Company.
The prosecution countered that the managing director had already testified as PW2 and that all relevant documents were before the court.
Justice Anineh subsequently adjourned the matter to March 19; April 1 and 2; May 11 and 12; and June 9 and 10, 2026, for continuation of trial.