Michael Onyeka Ogbu, Deputy Director and Head of the Service Delivery Division at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), stated in court yesterday that former CBN governor Godwin Emefiele did not direct him to pay $6,230,000 to international election observers before the 2023 general election.The top CBN official stated that the transaction was not fraudulent and that the disputed funds were paid to a staff member in the secretary’s office of the government of the federation.However, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, when giving evidence in the alleged $6.2 million fraud trial of Emefiele, denied that the government of Muhammadu Buhari or his office had anything to do with the transaction.Emefiele is on trial for an alleged 20-count amended indictment filed against him by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).Mr. Jim Obazee, a Special Investigator, said last year that video footage showed Emefiele and Mustapha removing $6.2 million from the CBN vault.Obazee’s findings prompted the federal government to alter the criminal accusation against the former CBN chairman before Justice Hamza Muazu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.According to the new allegation, Emefiele was accused of criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to get by false pretense, and acquiring money by false pretense while serving as the apex bank’s CEO.Emefiele was accused of forging a paper headed “Re: Presidential Directive on Foreign Election Observer Missions dated January 26, 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201” and claiming it came from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (AGF).Emefiele was accused of obtaining $6,230,000.00 by false pretense on February 8, 2023. He claimed that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation had requested a contingent logistical advance from the CBN in a letter dated January 26, 2023 with Ref No. SGF 43/L.01/201, “in line with Mr. President’s directive.”Ogbu testified on Monday that, based on the approval, the $6.2 million was sent to one Jibrin Abubakar, who was appointed by the Office of the SGF to collect the funds allegedly intended for the payment of international election observers.While being cross-examined previously, Ogbu stated that the monies were given since the request documents had evidence of clearances from former President Buhari and Emefiele.”6,230,000 was paid in cash to Jubrin Abubakar from OSGF, the money was paid in dollars,” he added, adding that he would not have paid the money without authorization.Ogbu argued that the transaction was not fraudulent because the Director Banking Services Department was attempting to retrieve the funds.According to him, the amount was paid with the “understanding that it would be refunded,” and he has written several times requesting the return of the money.The last letter I sent was in November 2023. Between February and November 2023, we worked to get the money back.”I am aware that the defendant ceased to be CBN governor in June 2023,” he added, adding that he had attempted to regularize the transaction.Ogbu discussed the CBN’s hierarchical structure, stating that he reports to the Director, Branch Operations, who then reports to the Deputy Governor for Operations and Administration. He also noted that the governor rarely writes directly to him.While claiming that he never handed any money to Emefiele and was unaware that the $6.2 million was tracked to Emefiele’s account, he stated, “He did not come to tell me that I should approve the payment.” I merely acted on what was on the paper.