Trial of Emefiele Over Naira Redesign Stalls in Abuja

​The legal proceedings against former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, faced a setback on Thursday, July 16, 2026, as his trial before Justice Maryanne Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, was adjourned due to the absence of the defendant and his legal team.

​Emefiele is currently standing trial on a four-count charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The charges center on allegations of disobedience to lawful directives and administrative actions regarding the controversial naira redesign policy, which prosecutors contend resulted in significant hardship for the Nigerian public.

​Proceedings Halted by Absenteeism

​At the commencement of the session, the courtroom remained empty of the defense team. Prosecution counsel, Abbas Mohammed, addressed the court to explain the situation, confirming that his team was prepared to proceed with the testimony of their ninth witness (PW9), as well as a representative from the Federal Ministry of Finance.

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​”My Lord, the defence and the defendant are not in court. We received today’s date from the court registrar. I spoke with learned Silk for the defence, Mr. Olalekan Ojo, SAN, who informed me that they were unaware of the adjourned date,” Mohammed stated.

​Given the procedural necessity for the presence of the defendant and his counsel, the prosecution requested a rescheduling to ensure that their witnesses could provide testimony in the presence of the accused.

​New Trial Dates Scheduled

​Accepting the explanation provided by the prosecution, Justice Anenih granted the adjournment. The court has scheduled the continuation of the trial for October 6 and 7, 2026.

​This case remains a high-profile matter of public interest, as it addresses the contentious policy changes implemented during Emefiele’s tenure at the helm of the country’s apex bank.