Victor EzejaA forensic expert, Bamaiyi Haruna on Thursday, informed the the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, that documents used to facilitate the withdrawal of $6.23 million from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) last year were forged.
The former governor of the CBN, Godwin Emefiele, was accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of conspiring with one Odoh Ocheme, who is now at large, to obtain $6.2 million from the CBN on February 8, 2023. The EFCC claimed that the money was requested by the SGF “via 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.
The ex-CBN governor has been facing charges of fraud and corruption that he allegedly perpetrated while in office.
During the last adjourned date, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, said the documents did not emanate from former President Muhammadu Buhari or his office.
The money was said to have been purportedly given to foreign election observers who participated in monitoring the 2023 general election.
Mustapha, however, told the court that the Federal Government had no business with foreign election observers.
READ ALSO: Buhari’s Signature Was Forged To Withdraw $6.2bn From CBN Under Emefiele, Ex-SGF Alleges
Speaking as the fifth prosecution witness for the EFCC, Mr. Meriga claimed that forensic examination of the contested documents revealed clear evidence of forgery, and that the signatures of the then-President Muhammadu Buhari and the then-Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, were forged on the documents that allowed the $6.23 million withdrawal from the CBN on February 8, 2023. Mr. Meriga was led in evidence by Rotimi Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who was representing the prosecution.
“The conclusion from the analysis revealed that the disputed documents showed evidence of forgery and copying act, as the pen movement, form and formation of the signature and the skill of execution were found to be different from that of the specimen signatures marked exhibits a to ‘A2’ and ‘B’ to ‘B2.’
“The formation of the disputed signature marked: ‘X’ and ‘B’ to ‘B1’ was found to be different in respect of pen movement impulses, skill of execution, loop formation, the presence of tremors; there were individual characteristics.
“This is a confirmation that the author of the specimen signature marked ‘B’ to ‘B1’ did not write the signature of Muhammadu Buhari on a disputed document marked ‘X’.
“Also, the form and formation of the disputed signature marked ‘X1’ and the specimen signatures marked ‘A’ to ‘A2’ were also found to be different in respect of pen movement impulses, terminal strokes, loop formation, presence of tremors and individual characteristics.
“This is also a confirmation that the author of the specimen signatures, marked ‘A’ to ‘A2’ did not write the signature of Boss Mustapha on the disputed document marked ‘X1,” Mr Mairiga stated.
After the cross-examination, the judge adjourned the trial until 11 March.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
