The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) in Muhammadu Buhari administration, Boss Mustapha on Tuesday, testified before the FCT High Court, Maitama in a $6.2 million alleged fraud case against former CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele.
Recall that Emefiele is facing an allegation of impersonating the Secretary to the Government of the Federation by illegally obtaining a sum of $6.2 million from the CBN for the alleged payment of foreign election observers.
During his testimony, Mustapha told the court that he knew nothing about the transaction in question, adding that the document which supposedly gave approval for the money to be withdrawn from the CBN, did not originate from him or the office of the President.
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According to the amended charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and marked CR/577/2023, Emefiele, on February 8, 2023, connived with one Odoh Ocheme, who is now on the run, to obtain $6.2 million from the CBN, claiming that it was requested by the SGF “vide a letter dated 26th January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201.”
The agency claimed that Emefiele allegedly claimed that the SGF requested the CBN to release “a contingent logistic advance in the sum of $6,230,000.00 in line with Mr President’s directive.”
The EFCC claimed Emefiele lied intentionally about the request.
Also, denying the said document, Mustapha told the court that in all the correspondences he ever received from former president Muhammadu Buhari, he never concluded with ” Please accept with my highest regard”.
He stated that the Nigerian government has no business with the payment of Foreign Election observers as that is the responsibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Under cross-examination, the former SGF said during his time in office, he had 6 permanent secretaries and never sent any one of them to the CBN to receive money.
