Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has vehemently denied approving $6.2 million purportedly allocated for international election observers.
Boss Mustapha testified during the ongoing trial of former Central Bank governor, Godwin Emefiele, where he hinted at the forgery of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s signature.
“When shown the purported approval document from the office of the president, I can affirm, based on my extensive service, that this document did not emanate from the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Mustapha stated.
As custodian of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) records, Mustapha drew attention to the irregularity of the document’s format, highlighting that FEC decisions are typically transmitted through extracts after conclusive deliberations.
He further elucidated on the absence of customary language in correspondences from President Buhari.
“In my years of service,” Boss Mustapha continued, “I have never encountered the term ‘special appropriation provision.’ Our procedures adhere strictly to appropriations enacted by the national assembly or through supplementary appropriations to address funding shortfalls.”
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Emefiele’s Trial
The Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had leveled an amended 20-count charge against Emefiele, including allegations of criminal conspiracy, conferring undue advantage, and breach of trust.
In the ongoing trial of the former governor, one Mr. Ogau Onyeka Michael, a witness and a former branch controller of the CBN, Abuja branch, earlier testified to Emefiele’s approval of the sum of $6.23 million in cash for election observers.
The witness, while speaking to Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, in Abuja, explained how the ex-CBN boss approved the payment of $6,23 in cash for international election observers in the last 2023 general election.
Furthermore, the witness narrated the ordeal and said on January 8, 2023, a request for payment in the sum of $6.23m was brought to his office including the documents for the disbursement of the money which were to be approved by the then CBN boss, Godwin Emefiele.
It was expected to be in cash for the international election observers.
“My Lord, all requests for payments are usually channelled to the branch controller, and that was in my office. On that day, my Lord, the request to my office was $6,230,000, and my attention was drawn towards it by my office assistant.
“It came from the banking services department, and the memo carried the signature of the Director, Banking Services, with an instruction to the branch controller to pay the sum of $6,230,000 to a staff member of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, bearing the name and identity card of the person,” he narrated.
Also adding that “the payment was for election observance and be paid cash in a naira equivalent of the said amount, it further stated that the money should be refunded in the second quarter of 2023 by the Federal Ministry of Finance.
“My Lord, the document also stated that ‘find attached the approval of the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria for the payment.
“The memo had the attached approval of the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation and that of the then President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Having gone through the document and satisfied that it met the requirement, I then minuted it to the head of the banking services unit for processing and subsequent payment.
“Mr. Williams, head of banking services, compiled and made the payment on April 8, 2023, and the payment was in cash. I can identify the document because it also carries my signature,” the witness obliged.
