A forensic document examiner Bamaiyi Meriga on Thursday told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, that documents used to facilitate the withdrawal of $6.23 million from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) last year were forged. The money was withdrawn purportedly to pay foreign election observers during the 2023 general elections. Meriga said this while giving evidence as a witness in the trial of Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the CBN. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had alleged that on February 8, 2023, a former CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, connived with one Odoh Ocheme, who is now on the run, to obtain $6.2m 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/.
The anti-graft agency also alleged that Emefiele, in January 2023, forged a document titled: “RE: PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE ON FOREIGN ELECTION OBSERVER MISSIONS,” dated 26 January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201.
At the last adjourned date, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, noted that the documents did not emanate from former President Muhammadu Buhari or his office.
Mustapha also informed the court that the Federal Government had no business with foreign election observers.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Thursday, Mr. Meriga who testified as the fifth prosecution witness for the EFCC, disclosed that the signatures of then-President Muhammadu Buhari and then Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, were forged on the documents used to facilitate the $6.23 million withdrawal from the CBN on 8 February 2023.
While being led in evidence by the prosecuting lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Meriga said after a forensic analysis of the disputed documents, he found out that there was clear evidence of forgery.
“The conclusion from the analysis revealed that the disputed documents showed evidence of forgery and copying act, as the pen movement, form and formation of the signature and the skill of execution were found to be different from that of the specimen signatures marked exhibits a to ‘A2’ and ‘B’ to ‘B2.’
“The formation of the disputed signature marked: ‘X’ and ‘B’ to ‘B1’ was found to be different with respect to pen movement impulses, skill of execution, loop formation, and presence of tremors; there were individual characteristics.
“This is a confirmation that the author of the specimen signature marked ‘B’ to ‘B1’ did not write the signature of Muhammadu Buhari on a disputed document marked ‘X’.
“Also, the form and formation of the disputed signature marked ‘X1’ and the specimen signatures marked ‘A’ to ‘A2’ were also found to be different in respect of pen movement impulses, terminal strokes, loop formation, presence of tremors, and individual characteristics.
“This is also a confirmation that the author of the specimen signatures, marked ‘A’ to ‘A2’ did not write the signature of Boss Mustapha on the disputed document marked ‘X1,” Mr Mairiga explained.
