An Abuja High Court has admitted five newspaper publications and certification receipts from the National Library of Nigeria as evidence in the ongoing trial of Godwin Emefiele, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The court made this ruling on May 11, 2026, after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presented the materials through a subpoenaed witness, Jegede Oluwasegun, an official from the National Library.
Justice Maryanne Anenih accepted the documents and marked them as evidence after they were tendered by the prosecution. Emefiele is facing a four-count charge related to disobedience to legal directives and actions that allegedly caused harm to the public. The EFCC argues that his actions contravened Section 123 of the Penal Code, Cap 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990, making him liable for punishment under the same law.
Emefiele has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
During the resumed hearing, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the EFCC’s counsel, introduced the prosecution’s eighth witness, Jegede Oluwasegun, who provided a detailed account of his responsibilities. The prosecution then presented copies of newspapers, including Punch, This Day, Vanguard, Daily Sun, and The Nation, along with certification receipts. Emefiele’s defense lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, did not object to the submission of the materials.
However, during cross-examination, Ojo questioned Oluwasegun, who acknowledged that while he certified the newspapers, he was not the author of their contents. “What I do is to certify the newspapers, but I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the content,” Oluwasegun explained.
Ojo then requested the admission of a This Day publication dated January 31, 2023, along with its certification. The witness confirmed the document, and the prosecution did not object to its inclusion. The court subsequently admitted it as evidence.
Justice Anenih adjourned the case until Wednesday for further proceedings.
