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.
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 Emefiele 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 up till 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 throughout his service as SGF, he never heard of the term “special appropriation provision” as contained in the purported letter from Buhari.
“The two terms known to me are appropriation as provided by the Appropriation Act passed by the National Assembly. The second is supplementary appropriation.
“All the correspondences I received from my principal, President Muhammadu Buhari, he never ended with “please accept the assurance of my highest regard”.
“Looking at the signature (on the letter), it is a failed attempt at reproducing President Muhammadu Buhari’s signature,” the former SGF told the court.
He added that as a fact, he knew that the Nigerian government has no business with foreign observers Mustapha agreed that there was a FEC meeting on January 18, 2023, which he said was the first for the year and was presided over by former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.
According to him, “On that day, there was a 16-point agenda and there was none that has to do with payment for foreign election observers. If there was no agenda for it, there was nothing to discuss.”
Speaking on Exhibit PD6, the witness said the document had his name on it but added that to the best of his knowledge, it did not emanate from the Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
The witness denied neither introducing or knowing one Jubrin Abubakar, who was said to have collected the $6,230,000 on behalf of the OSGF.
He further said the letter (Exhibit PD6) did not confirm the standard of writing letter in the OSGF, adding that the officer’s letter were always paragraphed and numbered.
He then told the court that the $6,230,000 released on February 8, 2023 by CBN was not brought to his office, saying, “No single dollar was brought to my office. The whole amount or part of it was not brought to me.”
The witness further told the court that he made a statement to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and also gave his specimen signature “because they needed it as I denied the authorship of the letter (Exhibit PD6)”.
Under cross-examination by counsel for Emefiele, Mathew Burkaa, Mustapha said he would want anyone who committed forgery to be punished.
He said he neither knew the person who collected the $6,230,000 nor the money came to him.
Meanwhile, based on the agreement of parties, the case has been adjourned to March 7, 11 and 25 for the continuation of the trial.