The immediate past Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, on Tuesday exonerated former President Muhammadu Bihari and himself from writing any letters to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under Godwin Emefiele, for the release of $6,230,000 for foreign observers for the 2023 general election.
Mustapha said this while testifying in the ongoing trial of Emefiele before Justice Hamza Muazu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting at Maitama, Abuja.
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Emefiele is being prosecuted, in the case marked CR/577/2023, on an amended 20-count charge bordering on conferment of corrupt advantage, forgery, criminal breach of trust, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence and obtaining money by false pretence.
The embattled former CBN Boss is accused in the charge of forging 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 to the Governor of the CBN.
He is further alleged to have, on February 8, 2023, knowingly obtained, by false pretence, $6,230,000.00 by falsely representing that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation via a letter dated 26 January 2023 with Ref No. SGF 43/L.01/201, which requested the CBN to provide a contingent logistic advance in the sum of $6,230,000 “in line with Mr. President’s directive”.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge brought against him by the government.
Testifying as the fifth prosecution witness (PW5), Mustapha told the court that he served as SFG for a period of five years, seven months between 2017 and 2023, adding that he knew Emefiele, who had been in office as CBN governor before his (Mustapha’s) appointment.
The former SGF said that up until the time he left office on May 29, 2023, he knew nothing about the transaction leading to the release of the $6,230,000.
Led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, the witness told the court that he did not see Exhibit PD7, a letter allegedly written by Buhari, all through his service in office.
According to him, “On the face value of this document (Exhibit PD7), having served for five years and seven months, I can say that this document did not emanate from the Office of the President.”
Giving reasons for his assertion, Mustapha said, “A correspondence that has the seal of the President does not carry a reference number. The seal is the authority.”
He further said that throughout his service as SGF, he never heard of the term “special appropriation provision” as contained in the purported letter from Buhari.