Boss Mustapha, a former Secretary of the Government of the Federation (SGF), claimed on Tuesday, 13th February 2024, that a fake document was used to release $6.2 million from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in February 2023.

Mustapha made this claim when he appeared before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, as the fourth prosecution witness in the ongoing fraud trial of the CBN Governor who was in office at the time, Godwin Emefiele.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) claimed that Emefiele and Odoh Ocheme, who is still at large, conspired on February 8, 2023, to receive $6.2 million from the CBN on behalf of the SGF “via a letter dated 26th January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/”.

Additionally, according to the anti-graft agency, Emefiele falsified a paper titled “RE: PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE ON FOREIGN ELECTION OBSERVER MISSIONS,” dated January 26, 2023, and bearing reference number SGF.43/L.01/201, in January 2023.

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Mustapha pointed out that the documents did not originate from the president or his administration during his Tuesday testimony, which was led by Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), the prosecution’s attorney.

He further denied taking any payment from the aforementioned funds.

Mustapha stated, “All through my service year as the SGF, I never came across these documents it was claimed that Buhari signed. From the face value of this document, having served for five years and seven months as SGF, this document did not emanate from the president for the following reasons”.

“A correspondence that has the seal of the Nigerian president does not carry a reference number. The seal is the authority.”

“Secondly, I have looked at it and read, that FEC decisions are not transmitted by letters. They are transmitted through extracts after conclusions are adopted.

“Thirdly, I am the custodian of FEC, the president will not refer executives’ conclusions to me.”

“Also, in all the five years and seven months, I have never heard of the terms special appropriation provision referred to. The terms known to me, my lord, are appropriation as provided by the appropriation act normally passed by the national assembly and when the government file drafts it brings supplementary appropriation.”

“In all the correspondences I have received from Buhari, it has never had ‘please accept the assurance of my highest regard’. I am his subordinate, my correspondences do not carry that.”

“And lastly, looking at the signature, it is a failed attempt at reproducing Buhari’s signature. I will leave that to the experts.”