A FORMER Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has claimed that the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, presented fake letters to the presidency, headed by former President Muhammadu to approve $6.2m for foreign election observers during the 2023 general elections.
Mustapha stated this on Tuesday, February 13, while giving evidence in Emefiele’s trial at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.
He exonerated himself and Buhari from the alleged fraud.
In his appearance as prosecution witness 2, Mustapha stated that although having served for five years and seven months, he was unaware of the transaction until the end of May 2023.
He claimed that two letters that were signed by Buhari and said to have come from the President were fake, while the letter credited to Buhari as the author did not come from the presidency.
He added that he was unaware of the SGF’s staff member named Jubrin Abubakar, who is said to have collected the $6.2 million cash on February 8, 2023, while being supervised by Emefiele.
He criticised two letters purportedly sent by the Office of the SGF and the Presidency under Buhari, pointing out that they did not follow the format for letters used by the SGF and Presidency.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is presently prosecuting Emefiele, the former CBN Governor allegedly falsified the letters to deceive the Federal Government,
Emefiele is standing trial before Justice Muazu on 20-count amended charges bordering on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery and obtaining by false pretences to the tune of $6,230,000.
He was accused of impersonating the SGF to obtain a sum of $6.2m illegally.
During the Monday, February 12 hearing, the first prosecution witness (PW1), Onyeka Ogbu, described how Emefiele allegedly authorised the payment of $6,230,000 in cash for foreign election observers for the 2023 general election.
Ogbu, the Deputy Director of Branch Operations at the Apex Bank, evaluated and approved the $6.2 million payment request for release.
A reporter with the ICIR
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