Emefiele trial: EFCC witness says Finance Ministry unaware of N124.86bn withdrawal

An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission witness has told an Abuja court that the Federal Ministry of Finance did not approve the withdrawal of N124.86 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Account by the Central Bank of Nigeria under former governor Godwin Emefiele.

Ali Mohammed, a director at the ministry, testified on Tuesday that the transaction did not pass through the ministry, Daily Post reported.

Mohammed said he received a letter from the special investigator appointed by President Bola Tinubu to investigate the CBN and subsequently convened an emergency meeting involving three divisions under the ministry’s Home Finance Unit.

He said the divisions denied knowledge of the withdrawal.

Mohammed subsequently sought clarification from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, which also denied knowledge of the transaction and concluded that the withdrawal must have been made by the CBN.

Relevant correspondence was admitted as exhibits without objection from Emefiele’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo.

Justice Maryanne Anenih adjourned proceedings until October 7 for cross-examination.