N124.86bn Withdrawal: ‘Finance Ministry, Knew Nothing About Emefiel’s CBN Transaction’ — Witness

Amidat Abdul Fatai7

The Federal Ministry of Finance was unaware of the withdrawal of N124.86bn from the Central Bank of Nigeria, a Director in the ministry, Ali Mohammed, told the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday.

Mohammed, who appeared as the 10th prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, said neither the ministry nor the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation was aware of the transaction.

The witness made the disclosure while testifying under examination by prosecution counsel, Abbas Mohammed.

Emefiele is facing trial over alleged financial offences arising from his tenure as Governor of the CBN. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Mohammed told Justice Maryanne Anineh that he appeared before the court after the Ministry of Finance received a letter from an investigation team concerning a N154bn transaction reportedly involving the CBN.

Explaining his official responsibilities, the witness said he heads the Department of Home Finance, which comprises three divisions: State and Public Finance, Trade, and Banking and Other Financial Institutions.

According to him, the department oversees matters relating to the CBN through its State and Public Finance Investment Division.

Mohammed said after receiving the investigators’ letter, he contacted the three divisions under his supervision to establish whether any of them had knowledge of the transaction.

He told the court that none of the divisions was aware of the transaction.

The witness said he subsequently wrote, through the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to ascertain whether the transaction was known to the Federal Government’s accounting office.

He explained that the inquiry was necessary because the Minister of Finance does not personally make direct payments to individuals or organisations, while the Office of the Accountant-General is responsible for government payments.

Mohammed said the OAGF responded in writing that it was also unaware of the transaction and indicated that the money represented a direct credit from the CBN.

He told the court that he relied on the Accountant-General’s response in preparing his reply to the Special Investigator.

“I responded via a memo of what has transpired between my office and that of the AGF and sought for clearance for such document to be forwarded to the Special Investigator. Subsequently, the letter was forwarded,” the witness said.

The prosecution subsequently presented documents relating to the correspondence to the witness for identification.

Mohammed identified a letter bearing the logo of the Federal Ministry of Finance, which he signed, as well as an accompanying letter signed by the Accountant-General of the Federation.

When asked about the originals, the witness said they had already been forwarded to the Special Investigator.

He therefore sought to tender certified true copies of the documents.

Defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, did not object to their admission.