
News
There were intrigues, politics in naira redesign: Ex-CBN acting governor
A former acting governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Folashodun Shonubi, has said he learnt that there were intrigues and politics in the naira redesign exercise carried out in 2022.
Shonubi, then Deputy Governor (Operations) before his appointment as Acting CBN Governor, said Godwin Emefiele, who was the then Governor of the CBN, told him and others that there were intrigues and politics in the whole exercise.
“The currency redesign of 2022 was the only one that I was part of. When we had meetings with the defendant (Emefiele), he said there were politics and intrigues around the whole exercise,” Shonubi said.
Shonubi, who is now retired, said this in Abuja on Wednesday in reaction to a question from Emefiele’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo (SAN) at the resumption of hearing in the trial of the ex-governor of the CBN.
Emefiele is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the HIgh Court of the Federal Capital Territory FCT (FCT) on a four-count charge bordering on disobedience to the direction of law and illegal act causing injury to the public in relation to the naira redesign exercise.
Ojo had asked Shonubi, who featured as the prosecution’s third witness, if, as a seasoned CBN banker, he was aware of the intrigues and politics in the naira redesign exercise.

The witness said he ordinarily did not know, but learnt from Emefiele, during one of their meetings, that there were indeed intrigues and politics in the exercise.
The witness however did not say if Emefiele told them what the intrigues and politics were about.
When asked if indeed there was a presidential approval for the naira redesign, the witness said the defendant presented a document during one of the meeting of the CBN’s Committee of Governors (COG) containing the signature of the president.
Shonubi however, said what the CBN under Emefiele produced after the naira redesign exercise was deferent from what President Buhari approved.
He said the redesigned naira notes were launched by President Moluhammadu Buhari, adding that he was not aware of a letter from the president complaining about the naira redesign.
The witness also said he did not come across any letter from either the COG or the board of the CBN protesting against or condemning the approval of the president for currency redesign.
On whether he knew all that traspired between President Buhari and Emefiele in the course of the naira redesign exercise, the witness said no.
Shonubi said he is not aware of the oral discussions between the defendant and the then president in relation to the naira redesign exercise.
He said it was only the defendant who was interacting with the president on this issue.
Shonubi confirmed that he was invited once by the EFCC in relation to the case and that he made statements.
He however said the EFCC did not do physical confrontation between him and the defendant in respect of what were contained in his statements that related to him (the defendant).
Earlier, while being led in evidence by prosecuting lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), the witness said what was produced by the CBN under Emefiele as the redesigned naira notes were not the same as approved by the President.
He said the memo presented to the president for the naira redesign was solely prepared by the defendant (Emefiele) and sent to the president.
Shonubi said the CBN, under Emefiele, did not follow its laid down procedures for currency redesign.
He stated that the normal procedures were for the Currency Management Department of the CBN to make recommendation on the need to redesign the currency, after which a paper would be submitted to the Committee of Governors (COG) of the bank for consideration.
The witness added that upon the COG’s approval to the CBN Board, which would, in turn, make recommendation to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He said after the President’s approval was received, the bank would then set up an internal committee to execute the currency redesign exercise.
Shonubi, who said, as a Deputy Governor, he was a member of both the COG and CBN Board, told the court that Emefiele stepped down the recommendation made in early 2021 by the bank’s Currency Department.
He said: “While serving as Deputy Governor, there was a time Naira was redesigned. That was in 2022.
“The CBN did not follow the procedures (for redesigning the currency).VI was a member of CBN Board as Deputy Governor.
“The Chairman of both the COG and board was the Governor. Prior to 2022, in early 2021, the Currency Department recommended the redesign of the currency notes.
“A paper was presented to me and on the instruction of the Governor (Emefiele), it was stepped down. In 2022, we again represented the paper and were asked to hold on.
“In mid October, 2022 the Deputy Governors (of the bank) were invited to a meeting in the office of the Governor whereby he (Emefiele) informed us that he has presidential approval for currency redesign.
“He showed us the memo, Mr President’s signature and instruction on the last page,” the witness said.
At the conclusion of Shonubi’s testimony, Justice Maryanne Anenih adjourned further hearing till October 9.
News
Group asks court to disqualify Tinubu from 2027 Election over alleged Certificate Forgery
The Centre for Reform and Public Advocacy (CFRPA) has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Kano seeking the disqualification of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the 2027 presidential election over allegations of certificate forgery.
According to court documents seen by Daily Trust, the plaintiff alleged that Tinubu presented forged academic certificates from Chicago State University and a fake National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the 2023 elections.
The suit, marked FHC/K/CS/312/2026, lists Tinubu, INEC, and Chicago State University as defendants.
The plaintiff contended that Tinubu never attended Government College Lagos as claimed, noting that the school was established in 1974, four years after Tinubu allegedly graduated.
The CSO further argued that Tinubu does not possess a valid secondary school certificate, which is the minimum constitutional requirement to contest for the presidency.
It claimed that INEC had failed to act on its petition dated June 19, 2026, demanding clarification on Tinubu’s eligibility.

In its statement of claims, the group referenced a 2023 U.S. court ruling in Re: Application of Atiku Abubakar (No. 23 CV 05099), which compelled Chicago State University to release Tinubu’s academic records.
The plaintiff insisted those records revealed false entries and inconsistencies, including a forged University of Cambridge General Certificate of Education.
The prayers asked by the plaintiff included declaration of forgery against Tinubu’s Chicago State University certificate, issuance of an order directing INEC to disqualify him from the 2027 presidential election, directing CSU to strike Tinubu’s name from its records and perpetual injunction restraining INEC from uploading Tinubu’s name as a candidate.
The plaintiff also submitted affidavits of non-multiplicity of action, witness statements, and letters to the NYSC and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, demanding disclaimers on the alleged fake NYSC certificate.
News
Firm expresses concern over repeated missing Court File in Ojukwu Property case
Ojukwu Transport Limited, OTL, has raised concerns over what it described as the repeated absence of court records in its ongoing property dispute with Bianca Ojukwu and her sons, even as it filed a motion for stay of execution pending the determination of its appeal.
Proceedings before Justice A.M. Lawal of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, last Monday were stalled for the second time in six weeks due to the unavailability of the case file.
The matter was adjourned after the file was reportedly not returned to court.
A similar situation occurred on May 8, 2026, when the case could not proceed because the file was unavailable.
OTL alleged that the file had been taken from the Ikeja Judicial Division to Lagos more than two months ago for the execution of a warrant and had not been returned.
The claimants’ legal representatives were absent from court on both occasions.

Describing the development as troubling, OTL said the repeated absence of the file had effectively stalled proceedings and raised questions about accountability in the handling of court records.
Amid the delays, the company disclosed that it had filed and served a motion for stay of execution at the Court of Appeal, seeking to halt enforcement of the judgment pending the determination of its appeal against the 2022 decision in Suit No. LD/1539/2012.
OTL maintained that the application became necessary because steps were being taken to enforce the judgment despite its pending appeal.
The company also contended that the properties in dispute had previously been the subject of a warrant of execution arising from a separate judgment delivered in 2018 by Justice Adedayo Oyebanji in Suit No. LD/794/2011.
The case was subsequently adjourned to October 8, 2026.
Present in court on both adjourned dates on behalf of Ojukwu Transport Limited was one of its directors, Dr. P. Ike Ojukwu.
Counsel to OTL are Ifeanyi Okumah Esq and Chief O. Ugolo, SAN, while Bianca Ojukwu and her sons are represented by Nick Omeye Esq and Co.
News
DSS releases, compensates man wrongfully arrested over alleged links with Boko Haram
The Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, has ordered the immediate release of a man wrongfully linked to Boko Haram terrorists.
The setting free followed a DSS investigation review panel that cleared Nura Idris of allegations of collaboration with Boko Haram terrorists.
Aside from giving Idris N3 million monetary compensation to meet his immediate needs, the DSS DG promised to help the wrongfully detained herder in his business, a practice common with the DG.
According to a security source, the farmer and animal rearer from Soba Local Government Area of Kaduna State, was arrested by a sister security agency in Suleja, Niger State, in June 2024, for alleged links with terrorists, and was thereafter transferred to DSS custody.
Following a thorough review of Nura’s case, the DSS investigation panel found no basis for the charges against him, prompting the DGSS to order his immediate release and payment of compensation.
Receiving the compensation, Nura thanked the DGSS for what he described as a kind gesture, saying the money would help him restart his life.

“I thank the DGSS for his kindness. I was well treated in DSS custody and I pray that Allah rewards the DGSS immensely,” the source quoted Nura as saying.
His father, Yusuf Idris, who received Nura upon his release, also expressed appreciation to the DGSS for his compassion and generosity, and assured that the compensation would be put to good use.
“When such cases are recorded, the DSS would usually follow up with the detainee, provide psychological and medical support, after which the Agency would further set up any business of the victim’s choice”, another source disclosed.
The release is part of an internal review exercise which the DSS began last year. The exercise is aimed at reassessing prolonged inherited cases to ensure that erroneously detained individuals do not remain in detention.
“The setting free and compensations across multiple cases underscores the DSS’s growing reputation for institutional integrity and humanness,” added the source.
“The Service under the current DG, has continued to show that safeguarding national security and citizens must go hand in hand with upholding the rights and dignity of citizens,” declared the source.
“Recall the case of Sunday Ifedi and his wife, Calista who were arrested on 8th November 2021 and detained in Wawa facility, three years before the appointment of the current DG in August 2024,” added the source. Sunday was released on 16th December, 2025, after the review of detainees ordered by the DG cleared him of ties with the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the DG awarded him N10 million as compensation.
“Importantly, plans are underway by the DSS to rebuild a restaurant in memory of Ifedi’s wife, Calista, who died while in custody in a detention facility in Wawa. The initiative is to compensate Sunday for the allegations that his late wife operated a restaurant being patronized by IPOB, for which they were arrested. This brings to bear, over thirty cases that have since been reviewed with over N300m paid as compensation,” the source disclosed.
It would also be recalled that, barely one month after ordering the release and payment of N10 million compensation of one Abuja-based business woman, Mrs. Chineze Ozoadibe, in October 2025, the DSS boss ordered the release of one Kenneth Okechukwu Nwafor, arrested in July 2022, for his alleged involvement in the activities of the proscribed IPOB. Five other detainees wrongfully linked to IPOB were by the same directive of the DG, released and each given an initial N2 million cash compensation. Last month, the DSS also released a Yobe State resident, Ya’u Mohammed, after investigations confirmed that he had no connection to terrorism.
Following his release, the Service provided initial financial support worth N2 million to assist his reintegration and restoration of his livelihood.
“There are many more instances where DSS investigations have established innocence and have been followed by efforts to facilitate reintegration,” stated the source, adding, “these are the kind of measures the DSS is using to build public trust.”
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