How Emefiele Discarded Buhari’s Approved Design, Printed ‘His Own Naira’ – Ex-CBN Director

In a startling revelation at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, a former Director of Currency Operations at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Ahmed Umar, accused the immediate past CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, of printing an unauthorized version of the naira currency.

Testifying in court, Umar stated that Emefiele disregarded the naira design approved by former President Muhammadu Buhari. He detailed significant discrepancies between the approved design and the version ultimately printed under Emefiele’s orders.

“The design approved by the President included a QR code, which the currency in circulation lacks,” Umar explained. “Additionally, the portrait’s positioning and the numbering scheme were altered. The approved design had the portrait on the right side, but the printed notes placed it on the left.”

These revelations come as Emefiele faces a four-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Emefiele, who was arraigned on May 15 before Justice Maryanne Anenih of the FCT High Court, has denied the charges and has been granted bail set at N300 million.