EFCC Witness: CBN Withdrawal Bypassed Finance Ministry

An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission witness, Ali Mohammed, has told the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory that the Central Bank of Nigeria’s withdrawal of N124.86 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Account under former governor Godwin Emefiele did not pass through the Federal Ministry of Finance.

Mohammed, a director in the Ministry of Finance, gave the evidence on Tuesday while testifying in the case involving the former CBN governor.

The witness was recounting how he received a letter from the Special Investigator appointed by President Bola Tinubu to investigate the affairs of the CBN under Emefiele, including the disputed withdrawal.

Finance officials deny knowledge of withdrawal

Mohammed told the court that he supervises three divisions within the ministry’s Home Finance Unit.

He said he convened an emergency meeting with the heads of the three divisions after receiving the investigator’s letter.

Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele. Credit: Punch.

According to him, the officials denied having any knowledge of the alleged N124.86 billion withdrawal.

Following their denial, Mohammed said he wrote to the Accountant-General of the Federation through the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, seeking clarification on the reported transaction.

He said the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation also denied knowledge of the withdrawal.

The witness told the court that the office subsequently concluded that the N124.86 billion withdrawal must have been carried out by the CBN.

Mohammed said the findings were communicated to the special investigation unit in response to his request for clarification.

Court admits documents

The witness tendered correspondence from the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation relating to the transaction.

Author

Toyibat Ajose

Toyibat is a highly motivated Mass Communication major and results-oriented professional with a robust foundation in media, education, and communication. Leveraging years of hands-on experience in journalism, she has honed her ability to craft compelling narratives, conduct thorough research, and deliver accurate and engaging content that resonates with diverse audiences.