A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Ahmed Halilu has told a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja that the re-designed Nigeria’s currency executed in 2022 was carried out in Nigeria by the Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPM)
Halilu who is the Managing Director of the Company told Justice Maryanna Anenih that the printing of the currency in Nigeria was at the instance of former President Muhammadu Buhari through a formal approval of October 6th 2022.
Led in evidence by EFCC’s lead counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, the witness narrated to the court how he was invited by the former Governor of Central Bank CBN, Godwin Emefiele who told him that he had secured the approval of the Presidency to print the currency locally.
He told the court that upon being shown a copy of the samples as approved by Buhari, he discovered that the capacity of their machines would not be able to cope with the presidential order.
Halilu said that he subsequently suggested that a UK-based company Delarue which he described as the original designer of Nigeria’s currency be contacted for amendment of the samples.
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The NSMP boss who is the second witness in the prosecution of Emefiele in the charges of redesigning Nigeria’s currency without Presidential approval informed the court that Delarue responded by submitting two options which he presented to the CBN for consideration and approval.
He said that the QR code was not in the one suggested by Delarue and the numbering system was amended to ensure hitch-free local production.
The witness told the court that Delarue was paid £205,000 by the CBN for the consultancy services rendered.
Under cross-examination by Emefiele’s lawyer, Mahmoud Magaji SAN, the witness said that the cost of producing the redesigned currency was exactly the same as the cost of the production of the old one.
He also noted that besides the removal of the QR code, there was no significant change in the samples approved by Buhari and the one printed by
He admitted that the printed currency was officially launched by former President Muhammadu Buhari and had since remained legal tender
Meanwhile, further trial have been shifted to September 19, 2024
