Buhari’s Signature Forged To Withdraw $6.2m From CBN – Ex-SGF

Buhari’s Signature Forged To Withdraw $6.2m From CBN – Ex-SGF

Yesterday, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, appeared as a witness in the ongoing trial of the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele.

The trial is taking place at an Abuja High Court in Maitama.

Mr. Mustapha, who took the stand as the second prosecution witness (PW-2), informed the court that both his and former President Muhammadu Buhari’s signatures were forged by the individuals who withdrew $6,230,000 from the CBN vault on February 8, 2023.

He stated that he had no knowledge or involvement in any correspondence that led to the withdrawal of the funds, which were allegedly meant for the payment of foreign election observers.

Led by the counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the former SGF asserted that the documents authorizing the money withdrawal did not originate from his office or the presidency.

Furthermore, Mustapha denied receiving any portion of the aforementioned funds.

He criticized the authorization letter that purportedly came from his office, emphasizing that it was not the responsibility of the federal government or the office of the SGF to request funds from the CBN for the payment of foreign election observers.

He clarified that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had the sole responsibility of engaging with such observers.

The witness distanced himself from the withdrawal, stating, “Throughout my tenure as the SGF, I never came across these documents, my lord.”

“It was claimed that Buhari also signed, but on 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 correspondent that has the seal of Nigeria does not carry a reference number. The seal is the authority. Secondly, I have looked at it and read the document. Federal Executive Council, 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 stayed in office, I never heard of the term ‘Special Appropriation Provision’, referred to me.

“The terms known to me my lord are appropriation as provided by the Appropriation Act, which is normally passed by the National Assembly. When the government files drafts, it brings Supplementary Appropriation.

“In all the correspondences I have received from Buhari, it has never had or ended with: ‘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,” he concluded.