An FCT High Court has subpoenaed former FRCN Executive Secretary Jim Obazee and a Commissioner of Police to testify in the ongoing $6.23m fraud trial of former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele.
The legal troubles of former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele took a significant step forward this week as an FCT High Court in Abuja moved to compel two key witnesses to testify in his ongoing trial.
Justice Hamza Mu’azu issued a subpoena on April 27, 2026, ordering former Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria Executive Secretary Jim Obazee and Commissioner of Police Eloho Okpoziakpo to appear before the court immediately.
Both men were directly involved in the investigation that produced the charges against Emefiele, who faces an amended 20-count charge covering alleged criminal breach of trust, forgery, abuse of office, and conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence — totalling $6.23m.
Critically, the court also directed the witnesses to tender newspaper publications relating to the controversial naira redesign policy — a decision that defined and dogged Emefiele’s tenure as CBN governor.
The subpoena was unambiguous in its instruction: “You are therefore summoned to appear before this Court on the 28th of April, 2026 at the hour of 9 ‘o’ Clock in the forenoon and so soon thereafter from day to day until the above cause is tried.”
As the trial progresses, the testimony of both witnesses could prove central to the prosecution’s case.