- The FCT High Court had summoned Jim Obazee and CP Eloho Okpoziakpo to testify in Emefiele’s ongoing trial
- Justice Hamza Mu’azu had ordered both witnesses to appear and present evidence linked to the naira redesign investigation
- The EFCC prosecution against Emefiele had continued on 20 amended counts involving alleged $6.23 million fraud and abuse of office
The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has summoned the former Executive Secretary of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, Jim Obazee, and a serving Commissioner of Police, Eloho Okpoziakpo, to testify in the ongoing trial of former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.
Justice Hamza Mu’azu issued the subpoena on April 27, 2026, directing both men to appear before the court on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, for proceedings in the high-profile criminal trial. The order requires their attendance from 9 o’clock in the morning and on subsequent days until the conclusion of the case, if necessary.
Emefiele is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an amended 20-count charge. The allegations against him include criminal breach of trust, forgery, abuse of office, and conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence, amounting to approximately $6.23 million.
In the subpoena, the court noted that the defendant “has been charged by the Federal Republic of Nigeria… on offences emanating from your investigation,” indicating that the summoned witnesses were directly involved in the investigative process that led to the current prosecution.
The court further directed both Obazee and Okpoziakpo to present any relevant evidence, including newspaper publications relating to the naira redesign policy, which has formed part of the broader context of the investigation. Their testimonies are expected to assist the court in clarifying key issues surrounding the policy and the alleged offences.
According to the judge’s order, the witnesses are required not only to attend court but also to provide clarification on matters arising from their roles in the investigation. The subpoena emphasised the importance of their evidence in determining the facts of the case.
The trial, which has drawn significant public attention due to the prominence of the defendant and the scale of the allegations, is expected to continue with the testimonies of the subpoenaed witnesses.
Emefiele, who previously served as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, remains a central figure in a case that continues to unfold within the nation’s anti-corruption legal framework.