At the resumption of hearing in the corruption charges brought against former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele, the court has heard how former President Muhammadu Buhari’s signature was forged to obtain $6.2m from the CBN.
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, told the High Court presided by Justice Hamza Muazu in the Federal Capital Territory that it was with a forged document the $6.2m meant for election observers in the 2023 general elections was moved.
Mr. Mustapha appeared as a prosecution witness in the case filed against Emefiele by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The EFCC accused of Emefiele conniving with one Odoh Ocheme, to move $6.2m from the CBN, claiming that it was requested by the SGF “vide a letter dated 26th January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/.
The anti-graft agency also alleged that Emefiele, in January 2023, forged a document titled: “RE: PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE ON FOREIGN ELECTION OBSERVER MISSIONS,” dated 26 January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201.
“All through my service year as the SGF, I never came across these documents it was claimed that Buhari signed. From the face value of this document, having served for five years and seven months as SGF, this document did not emanate from the president for the following reasons.
“A correspondence that has the seal of the Nigerian president does not carry a reference number. The seal is the authority.
“Secondly, I have looked at it and read, that FEC decisions are not transmitted by letters. They are transmitted through extracts after conclusions are adopted.
“Thirdly, I am the custodian of FEC, the president will not refer executives’ conclusions to me.
“Also, in all the five years and seven months, I have never heard of the terms special appropriation provision referred to. The terms known to me, my lord, are appropriation as provided by the appropriation act normally passed by the national assembly and when the government file drafts it brings supplementary appropriation.
“In all the correspondences I have received from Buhari, it has never had ‘please accept the assurance of my highest regard’. I am his subordinate, my correspondences do not carry that.
And lastly, looking at the signature, it is a failed attempt at reproducing Buhari’s signature. I will leave that to the experts.” With Punch reports
