EMEFIELE NOT SIGNATORY TO N124.86BN WITHDRAWAL FROM FG’S ACCOUNT — WITNESS

A Federal Ministry of Finance director has told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that the ministry and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation were unaware of the withdrawal of N124.86 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Account during Godwin Emefiele’s tenure as Central Bank of Nigeria governor.
The witness, Ali Mohammed, testified as the 10th prosecution witness in Emefiele’s ongoing trial. He said none of the divisions under his supervision had knowledge of the transaction.
Mohammed explained that the withdrawal was classified in the ministry’s records as a direct debit by the CBN, meaning the funds were withdrawn without recourse to another government office.
He also told the court that the Accountant-General’s Office confirmed that it was not aware of the transaction and that the Ministry of Finance had not directed the withdrawal.
The witness presented documents from the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General, which were admitted in evidence after Emefiele’s lawyer raised no objection.
Earlier, another prosecution witness had testified that the N124.86 billion was used to settle outstanding CBN obligations and that the withdrawal was made from the Consolidated Revenue Account without National Assembly approval.
The court adjourned the case for further cross-examination and continuation of the trial.