Documents Emefiele used to seek $6.2m payment for Observers forged, Forensic Analyst tells court

The trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele resumed on Thursday before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, where a forensic analyst confirmed that the documents used to request $6.2 million for foreign election observers were forged.

The witness, Bamaiyi Meriga, called by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), informed the court that following forensic analysis of the disputed documents, he discovered that there was clear evidence of forgery of signature, and the seal of execution were different from the original.

In the ongoing prosecution of former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele, a forensic analyst confirmed that the paperwork used to solicit payment of $6.2 million to international election observers was fabricated.

He further stated that the signatures were neither those of former President Muhammadu Buhari or ex-Secretary General of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha.

The trial judge, Justice Muazu, admitted the two documents, Presidential Directive on Foreign Observer Election and Presidential Directive on Foreign Observer Election, that were offered in evidence.

Under cross-examination by Emefiele’s attorney, the witness stated that he was not an EFCC employee and that his salary was not paid by the anti-graft agency, but rather by the Nigeria Immigration Service.

Emefiele’s counsel, Matthew Burkaa, expressed concern with the witness’s conduct, claiming that the witness deceived the court by ducking questions.

However, the Prosecution Counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, was not pleased with the defence counsel.

The trial has been delayed until March 11 for continuation.

Emefiele is on trial before Justice Muazu on 20 revised accusations of corrupt advantages, conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery, and gaining by false pretences totaling $6,230,000.

He was accused of impersonating the SGF to illegally obtain $6.2 million.

Ex-SGF Mustapha testified before the court in mid-February, saying he knew nothing about the transaction until he left office at the end of May 2023, and that despite serving for five years and seven months, the document in question did not come from then-President Buhari’s office.