Emefiele’s $6.23m Fraud Trial: Court Summons Police Chief and Jim Obazee to Testify

The fraud trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele has taken a sharp new turn, with an FCT High Court in Abuja summoning two key figures — former Financial Reporting Council Executive Secretary Jim Obazee and a senior police chief — to testify in the $6.23 million case.

Justice Hamza Muazu issued the summons on April 28, 2026, as the EFCC continued presenting its case against the former apex bank boss. Both Obazee and the police chief are now required to appear in court and give testimony relevant to the charges Emefiele is facing.

The $6.23 Million Allegation

At the centre of the EFCC’s case is a claim by one of its witnesses that $6.23 million was withdrawn from the CBN during Emefiele’s tenure and channelled toward “phoney” election observers — essentially fake activities designed to drain public funds under the guise of electoral credibility work. If proven, it represents a serious abuse of the country’s financial system from its very top.

Emefiele served as CBN Governor under President Muhammadu Buhari from 2014 to 2023. He was arrested and charged after the current administration came to power. The case has attracted significant public attention given the scale of the allegations and his profile in Nigeria’s economic history.

Defence Pushes to Kill the Case

While the prosecution builds its case, Emefiele’s defence team is fighting to end the proceedings entirely. The defence has filed a motion asking Justice Muazu to terminate the trial, arguing that key prosecution witnesses are missing and that the delays amount to a prejudice against the defendant.

The court has yet to rule on that motion. In the meantime, the summons issued to Obazee and the police chief signals the court intends all relevant testimony to be heard before making any decision. The trial remains one of the most high-stakes legal proceedings in Nigeria right now.

Sources: Punch, TVC News, TheCable