A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ali Mohammed has told the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory that the N124.86 billion withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Account by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN under Godwin Emefiele did not pass through the Federal Ministry of Finance.
The witness, who is a director in the Federal Ministry of Finance, on Tuesday narrated how he received a letter from the Special Investigator appointed by President Bola Tinubu to investigate CBN under Emefiele and in respect of the withdrawn fund.
Mohammed, who claimed to be a Supervisor of three divisions under Home Finance Unit of the ministry, said that he summoned an emergency meeting of the three divisions where their heads denied privy to the alleged withdrawal of the N124.86 billion.
Following the denial of knowledge by the three divisions, he subsequently wrote a letter to the Accountant General of the Federation through the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, seeking clarifications on the alleged fund withdrawal.
In response, the witness told the court that the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation also denied having knowledge of the transaction and that the Office concluded that the withdrawal of the N124.86bn must have been done by the CBN.
He said the findings on the transactions were conveyed to the special investigation unit in response to his request.
The witness subsequently tendered all letters from Ministry of Finance and those of the Office Accountant General of the Federation before the court and were admitted as exhibits following no objection from Emefiele’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, SAN.
Meanwhile, further hearing in the case has been fixed for October 7 by Justice Maryanne Anenih for cross examination of the witness by the defence.
Emefiele: Ministry did not approve withdrawal of N124.86bn by CBN- EFCC witness tells court