By Ayomide Otitoju
An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigator, Eneanya, testified in court on Friday that the alleged unlawful naira redesign policy caused significant hardship for Nigerians.
Eneanya, part of the EFCC team that investigated the exercise, told the court that his team reviewed documents, electronic records, and audiovisual materials to assess the policy’s impact.
“We looked at the documentary, electronic, and audiovisual evidence of the effect of the naira redesign on the public,” he said.
Under the direction of prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), the court admitted several prosecution exhibits, including documents, video recordings, a certificate of identification, certified delivery notes, notices of meetings, and bills of settlement for 2022 and 2023. Six video clips from four national television stations were also played in court. The defence, led by Olalekan Ojo (SAN), did not object to the admission of the exhibits.
Eneanya told the court the videos highlighted widespread public frustration, as many Nigerians struggled to meet daily needs and sustain businesses amid the cash crunch. He added that members of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Board and Committee of Governors reportedly only became aware of the President’s approval after the redesign had been initiated.
“In the course of the investigation, we set out to determine how the laws on changes to the naira policy were applied or abused,” Eneanya said.
When Eneanya began commenting on the Supreme Court’s judgment regarding the redesign, the defence objected, arguing that a witness could not testify on a public document he did not author. Justice Maryanne Anenih overruled the objection, clarifying that the witness was providing evidence on the document, not merely submitting it to court.
Eneanya also confirmed that former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele was interviewed during the investigation and that his extra-judicial statements were tendered as evidence. Emefiele was questioned on whether the Board of Governors had approved the naira redesign policy.
Following a defence request for additional time to cross-examine the witness, Justice Anenih adjourned proceedings to November 26.
