March 07, (THEWILL)- A forensic analyst, Bamaiyi Meriga, has said that the purported documents allegedly directing the withdrawal of $6,230,000 from the vault of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), for payment of foreign election observers, were forged.
Meriga, a witness, called by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), made the claim on Thursday, before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, at the resumed trial of Godwin Emefiele, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Emefiele is being prosecuted on a 20-count amended charge, filed by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
According to the amended charge, Emefiele is being accused of forging a document titled: “Re: Presidential Directive on Foreign Election Observer Missions”.
The former apex bank chief was alleged to have obtained by false pretence, $6,230,000.00 by falsely representing that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), requested the CBN to provide a contingent logistic advance of $6,230,000 “in line with Mr President’s directive.”
THEWILL reported earlier that an official of the apex bank, Onyeka Ogbu, in his testimony, told the court that the money was withdrawn and handed in cash to an official from the office of the SGF, named Jibril Abubakar.
Also at the last hearing of the case, former SGF, Boss Mustapha, told the court that he knew nothing about the transaction up till the time he left office at the end of May 2023. Mustapha said having served for five years and seven months, the document in contention didn’t emanate from the office of the then-President, Buhari.
However, Meriga, in his testimony on Thursday, said following forensic analysis of the disputed documents, he discovered that there was clear evidence of forgery of signature, and the seal of execution was different from the original.
He also corroborated earlier claims by Mustapha that the signatures contained in the purported document are not those of former President Muhammadu Buhari and the ex-SGF.
The documents tendered were admitted in evidence by the trial judge, Justice Muazu.
Under cross-examination by counsel for Emefiele, the witness said he was not a staff of the EFCC and was not being paid by the anti-graft agency, but his salary was domiciled with the Nigeria Immigration Service.
Counsel for Emefiele, Matthew Burkaa, expressed displeasure over the conduct of the witness, saying the witness misled the court by evading questions; a claim the Prosecution Counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, objected to.
The trial has been adjourned till March 11 for continuation.
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