Boss Mustapha Says Buhari’s Signature Was Forged to Take $6.2 Million Out Of Central Bank
Boss Mustapha, the immediate past chief of staff to former President Buhari, has said that forged documents were used to collect $6.2 million from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
According to Mustapha, the signature of Buhari was forged on the document, which neither emanated from his own office nor that of the former President.
He clarified on Tuesday while testifying before an Abuja High Court in the ongoing alleged fraud trial of the immediate CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
EFCC had accused Emefiele of conniving with a CBN staff, Odoh Ocheme, now on the run, and two others, of fraudulently obtaining the $6.2 million from the apex bank.
The accused, according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), perpetrated the act through a letter dated January 26, 2023, purportedly from the office of Mustapha, for the payment of foreign observers during the 2023 polls.
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Mustapha said the issue of foreign observer’s payment was never discussed at the session of the federal executive council, and that federal government has no responsibility for the foreign election observers.
Earlier, during cross-examination, Ogbu Michael, a Deputy Director at the CBN, who was formerly a Branch Controller at the time, told the court that he authorized the payment of the $6.2m after the approval from the banking services department.
He said the money was paid in cash and was expected to be refunded in the second quarter of 2023.
When asked by Burkaa if he authenticated the identity card used for the payment of the money, Ogbu said, I went by the payment instructions and did not go beyond the identity card attached to the document. The money was paid in USD cash to Jubril.
Bukaar further asked if the identity card presented was either the national identity card, driver’s license, passport, or voter card, Ogbu stated that none of the identity cards was attached to the document.
He said The instructions were to pay with the ID indicated.
Burkaa asked if Ogbu was aware the former SGF, Buhari, and the CBN Deputy governor were standing trial on the matter, and he said he was not aware.
Justice Hamza Muazu adjourned till March 7, 11, and 25 for continuation of trial.
