The document was forged to secure the release of $2.6 million for foreign election observers from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Mr. Boss Mustapha, former Secretary of the Government of the Federation, stated this on Tuesday, when he appeared before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
Mustapha is the fourth prosecution witness in the ongoing fraud trial of the embattled former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
Emefiele is alleged to have connived with one Odoh Ocheme, to obtain $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 said Ocheme, is now on the run.
The prosecuting agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), 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.
In his presentation before the court, Boss Mustapha said, “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 correspondence 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.” READ ALSO:
