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$6.2m Scandal: Who Forged Buhari’s Signature?

Published

2 years ago

February 18, 2024

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

The last is yet to be heard of the unfolding drama regarding the use of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s signature to withdraw a whopping $6,230,000 from the Central Bank of Nigeria under the watch of Mr. Godwin Emefiele as the apex bank’s boss. So far, everyone involved in the withdrawal has denied complicity.

While the former CBN governor maintained that the document that authorized the withdrawal emanated from the presidency, the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, manned by Boss Mustapha at the time, the former SGF has vehemently denied knowledge of the both the document and the withdrawal.

When the former SGF appeared early last week, at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, to testify in the ongoing trial of ex-Governor of CBN, he denied knowledge of everything relating to the transaction, stating that all the time he served in government, he never heard of the term “Special Appropriation Provision”.

He added that the two terms familiar to him are just “Appropriation” and “Supplementary”.

Stressing his defence, Mustapha also said that in all the correspondences he ever received from former President Buhari, he never concluded with “Please accept with my highest regard,” saying the signature was a failed attempt at reproducing Buhari’s signature.

He further informed that the Federal Government has no business with the payment of foreign election observers. To him, the Federal Executive Council decisions are not transmitted by letters.

Recall that Emefiele is standing trial before Justice Hamza Muazu on a 20-count amended charges bordering on corrupt advantages, conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery and obtaining by false pretenses to the tune of $6,230,000.

A Special Investigator, Mr Jim Obazee, had late last year claimed that video footages showed Emefiele and Mustapha dragging $6.2 million cash from the vault of the CBN. Findings by Obazee subsequently led the federal government to amend the criminal charge against the former CBN boss before Justice Hamza Muazu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to the new charge, Emefiele was alleged to have engaged in criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence and obtaining money by false pretence, when he served as the apex bank’s boss. Among the allegations was that Emefiele forged a document titled: Re: Presidential Directive on Foreign Election Observer Missions dated January 26, 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201 and purported same to have emanated from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (AGF). Emefiele was also alleged to have, on February 8, 2023 know- ingly obtained, by false pretence, $6,230,000.00 by falsely representing that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation vide a letter dated January 26, 2023 with Ref No. SGF 43/L.01/201 requested the CBN to provide a contingent logistic advance in the sum of $6,230,000 “in line with Mr. President’s directive.”

He was accused of impersonating the SGF to illegally obtain a sum of $6.2m.

Mustapha, who appeared as Prosecution Witness 2, said he knew nothing about the transaction up till the time he left office at the end of May 2023, concluding that having served for five years and seven months, the document in contention did not emanate from the office of the then President Buhari.

Mustapha’s defence appeared slightly at variance with the report of the special panel tasked with probing the Emefiele and the CBN, and chaired by Jim Obazee, the special investigator, who was appointed by President Bola Tinubu

The report had disclosed that the money withdrawn from the foreign payments office, Abuja branch of the CBN, was “purportedly for foreign election observer missions”.

The panel said the “unlawful removal” was captured on closed-circuit television (CCTV) “which was viewed and preserved”.

The report said a letter, dated January 23, 2023, with the signature of former President Muhammadu Buhari, was sent to Mustapha, with the caption ‘Presidential Directive on Foreign Election Observer Missions’.

The panel said it was later found that “Buhari’s signature appeared to have been forged”.

However, a First Prosecution Witness (PW1), Onyeka Ogbu, told the court how the ex-CBN governor approved the payment of $6,230,000 in cash for international election observers in the 2023 general election.

Ogbu, the Deputy Director of Branch Operations at the apex bank, reviewed and approved the $6.2 million payment request for disbursement to some international election observers prior to the 2023 general election. The senior CBN official also insisted that the transaction was not fraudulent to the best of his knowledge, and that the money in dispute was paid to a staff in the office of the secretary to the government of the federation.

Mustapha, however, denied that the government of Muhammadu Buhari or his office had anything to do with the said transaction.

Testifying, Ogbu said, based on the approval, the said $6.2million was paid to one, Jibrin Abubakar, nominated by the Office of the SGF to collect the money allegedly meant for the payment of the foreign election observers. While under cross examination earlier, Ogbu, noted that the funds were released because the request documents contained evidence of approvals by former President Buhari and Emefiele.

“6,230,000 was paid in cash to Jubrin Abubakar from OSGF, the money was paid in dollars,” he said, adding that he would not have paid the money without authorisation. Ogbu maintained that the transaction was not a fraudulent transaction because the Director Banking Services Department was trying to recover the money.

According to him, payment of the fund was based on the “understanding that it would be refunded,” adding that he has written for times for the return of the money. “The last letter I wrote was in November 2023. Between February and November 2023, we have made efforts to have the money back.

“I am aware that the defendant ceased to be CBN governor in June 2023,” he said, adding that he had made efforts to regularise the transaction.”

Speaking on the structure of hierarchy in the CBN, Ogbu, who pointed out that he did not report directly to the CBN governor but to the Director, Branch Operations, who in turn reported to the deputy governor operations and administration, said it was not usual for the governor to write directly to him. While stating that he never paid any money to Emefiele, nor aware of the $6.2 million was traced to Emefiele’s account, he said, “He (Emefiele) did not come to tell me that I should approve the payment. I only acted on what is on the paper.

Meanwhile, the special investigator appointed by Tinubu, has asked the International criminal police organisation (Interpol) to place three suspects on its watchlist over an alleged fraud of $6,230,000.

The suspects are Adamu Abubakar, Imam Abubakar, and Odoh Eric Ocheme.

The federal government had filed extradition charges against the trio for allegedly forging the signature of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari and documents purportedly written by Boss Mustapha, the former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), to induce the payment of $6,230,000 from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“That Adamu Abubakar (now at large), Imam Abubakar (now at large), Odoh Eric Ocheme (now at large), Bashirudeen Maishanu and others also now at large, on or about the 23 day of January, 2023, at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, forged the following documents: (1) The Presidency, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Identity Card in the name of Jibril Abubakar; (ii) Letter dated 23 January, 2023 purportedly written by Muhammad Buhari to the Mr. Boss Mustapha; (iii) Letter dated 26 January, 2023 purportedly written by Boss Mustapha to Mr. Godwin Emefiele; (iv) Central Bank of Nigeria Internal Memo dated 31 January, 2023 purportedly written by the Director, Banking Services Department to the Governor, and (v) Central Bank of Nigeria Internal Memo dated 7th February, 2023 purportedly written by the Director, Banking Services Department to the Branch Controller, Abuja, Branch, with the intent that the Central Bank of Nigeria, Abuja Branch may in the believe that the documents are genuine be induced to pay you the sum of six million, two hundred and thirty thousand United States Dollars ($6,230,000.00) and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(2)[c] of the Miscellaneous offences Act, Cap. M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2010,” the part of the charge sheet reads.

In a letter dated February 12, 2024, the special investigator asked Interpol to place the three suspects on red notice.

The letter, signed by Eloho Okpoziakpo, the head of operations, office of the special investigator, was addressed to the assistant Inspector-General of Police, National Central Bureau (NCB) and Interpol.

“In the course of the Special Investigator’s assignment, Mr. Odoh Eric Ocheme, (a staff of the CBN) now at large and the other two accomplices, also now at large, were discovered to have conspired and forged documents in the name of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria with which they stole about US$6,230,000 (Six Million, Two Hundred and Thirty Thousand Dollars, in cash, from the coffers of the CBN,” the letter reads.

On January 18, 2024, Inyang Ekwo, a judge at a Federal High Court in Abuja, issued a warrant of arrest against the three suspects.

Ekwo issued the order following a motion moved by Celestine Odo, the counsel of the federal government.

With massive denials from everyone named in the scandal, the question still remain apt as to who forged Buhari’s signature? Emefiele, Mustapha or persons at large? Time will sure tell.

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El-Rufai to Remain in ICPC Custody Till June

Published

15 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Eric

Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court has adjourned the bail hearing of former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, to the first week of June, 2026.

El-Rufai is being arraigned on multiple charges bordering on alleged financial crime and abuse of office by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

“Similarly, another charge, number KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/26, against Mallam Nasir El-Rufa’i and one Amadu Sule (LEDA) has also been filed before a Kaduna State High Court in the Kaduna Judicial Division,” the ICPC said last month.

“The charges in the State High Court case range from abuse of office, fraud, and intent to commit fraud to conferring undue advantage, among others. Both charges were filed by the ICPC on the 18th of March, 2026.”

Speaking after the court session, counsel to the former governor, Ukpon Akpan, kicked against the lingering adjournment of the bail hearing by one presiding judge as politically motivated.

The high-profile case has drawn significant public attention, with heightened security presence observed around the court premises.

The former governor had arrived at the court at about 9 am in a convoy accompanied by ICPC officials and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

During the proceedings, supporters of the former governor gathered outside the courtroom, while security agencies maintained order and restricted movement within the vicinity.

Inside the courtroom, journalists, as usual, were not allowed, as proceedings are expected to focus on arguments presented by both the defence and prosecution regarding the bail request.

At the last sitting, the defence team had maintained that their client poses no flight risk and is willing to comply with all conditions set by the court.

Meanwhile, the prosecution has urged the court to carefully consider the gravity of the charges.

The 66-year-old former governor of Kaduna has been in ICPC custody since February 19 following his release by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

El-Rufai, a former minister of the FCT, was, however, released on March 27 based on compassionate grounds following his mother’s death.

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Timi Frank Petitions US, Demands Gbajabiamila’s Resignation over ‘Anti-Democratic’ Remarks

Published

18 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Eric

Political activist, Comrade Timi Frank, has called on the United States government to investigate and sanction the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, over alleged actions capable of undermining Nigeria’s democracy.

Frank’s demand followed a viral video in which Gbajabiamila was quoted as telling Hon Leke Abejide, during his wife’s 50th birthday that: “Don’t come to APC. Stay in ADC and scatter them. We like what you’re doing… stay in ADC and win your election… bring Bala Gombe, and we’ll support him. Good luck in court.”

Describing the remarks as “reckless” and dangerous, the former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said they point to a deliberate attempt to weaken opposition parties and erode democratic institutions.

“Your statement, as Chief of Staff, raises serious concerns about the determination by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s regime to truncate democracy,” he said, adding that “inference can be made that there is an infringement on the independence of the judiciary.”

He warned that any suggestion that courts could be influenced “undermines public confidence in democratic institutions,” citing references to political actors, including Leke Abejide, as requiring clarification to avoid “dangerous interpretations.”

Frank argued that Gbajabiamila’s comments effectively confirm the Presidency’s involvement in crises rocking opposition parties such as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

“When a Chief of Staff speaks, it reflects the body language of the President. This points to a deliberate attempt to weaken opposition and consolidate power,” he said.

He further claimed that state influence, including the use of the judiciary, is being deployed against opposition parties. “The audacity of the statement suggests nothing will happen even if opposition parties are destabilised. That is dangerous,” he added.

Frank described Gbajabiamila as “an alter ego of the President” who had “displayed the arrogance of power,” insisting that public office holders must uphold restraint, respect for the rule of law and constitutional order.

He also urged U.S. authorities to probe Gbajabiamila’s activities and financial dealings.

“As an American citizen, he should be held accountable. We want to know if he is meeting his tax obligations in line with his earnings in Nigeria,” Frank said, describing him as “a bad ambassador of the United States.”

“We want to be sure that all earnings, including those from official and business engagements in Nigeria, are properly declared and taxed,” he added.

On accountability, Frank insisted resignation was the only honourable option.

“We call for your resignation with immediate effect. If such a statement were made in the United States, the official involved would have resigned forthwith,” he said.

He disclosed plans to petition the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, stressing that “those entrusted with leadership must reflect humility, constitutional awareness and respect for separation of powers.”

“Power is transient, but institutions must endure. Any comment that diminishes their independence must be corrected,” he added.

The call comes amid rising concerns over the stability of Nigeria’s multiparty system and allegations of increasing pressure on opposition parties.

Comrade Timi Frank is the ULMWP Ambassador (East Africa and Middle East) and Senior Advisor, Global Friendship City Association (GFCA), USA.

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Alleged Coup Plotters Get April 22 Date for Trial, Slammed with 13-Count Charge

Published

21 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Eric

The Federal Government has filed a 13-count charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja against a retired Major General, a retired Naval Captain, a serving police inspector, and three others over an alleged coup plot and acts of terrorism.

The alleged coup plotters, are scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow (Wednesday), April 22, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Those named in the charge are Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana (rtd), Captain (NN) Erasmus Ochegobia Victor (rtd), Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani.

Also listed as a defendant, but said to be at large, is former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva.

The charge, filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, accuses the defendants of offences ranging from treason and terrorism to failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.

At the centre of the case is an allegation that the defendants conspired in 2025 to undermine the Nigerian state.

According to the charge, they “conspired with one another to levy war against the state to overawe the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” an offence punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.

The prosecution further alleged that the defendants had prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act involving one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others but failed to alert authorities.

The charge stated that they, “knowing that and intended to commit treason, did not give the information thereof with all reasonable despatch to either the President or a Peace Officer.”

In another count, the defendants were accused of failing to take preventive steps, as they allegedly “did not use any reasonable endeavours to prevent the commission of the offence.”

Beyond treason, the Federal Government is prosecuting the defendants for terrorism-related offences under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The charge alleged that they “conspired with one another to commit an act of terrorism in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Particularly, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru are accused of participating in meetings linked to terrorist activities.

Prosecutors claim they acted “in a bid to further a political ideology which may seriously destabilise the constitutional structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The charge also accused the defendants of providing support for terrorism, alleging that they “knowingly and indirectly rendered support” to facilitate acts of terror.

In addition, the prosecution alleged a deliberate suppression of intelligence, stating that the defendants “had information which would be of material assistance in preventing the commission of the act of terrorism but failed to disclose the information to the relevant agency as soon as practicable.”

The case further traced financial transactions allegedly linked to terrorism financing, with multiple defendants accused of handling proceeds of unlawful activities.
Bukar Kashim Goni is alleged to have “indirectly retained the aggregate sum of N50,000,000, which forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: terrorism financing,” while Abdulkadir Sani allegedly retained N2 million from a similar source.

Zekeri Umoru, according to the charge, “without going through a financial institution accepted a cash payment of the sum of N10,000,000,” and also retained an additional N8.8 million suspected to be proceeds of terrorism financing.

Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim was also accused of taking possession of N1 million linked to the same alleged scheme.

All financial-related counts were brought under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The 13-count charge presents what prosecutors describe as a coordinated network involving security personnel, civilians, and a politically exposed individual, allegedly connected to activities threatening national security.