Ex-SGF alleges Buhari’s signature forged for $6.2m CBN withdrawal

In a startling revelation, Boss Mustapha, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) has come forward with allegations of forgery involving President Muhammadu Buhari’s signature in a $6.2 million Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) withdrawal.

Mustapha, who was testifying on Tuesday, February 13, in the trial of former governor of the CBN, Godwin Emefiele, said his signature was also forged, adding that he knew nothing about the money reported to have been withdrawn for the payment of foreign election observers.

Read also: Emefiele: Buhari never approved $6.2m for foreign observers, payment documents were forged – EX SGF

Emefiele is standing trial on a 20-count amended criminal charges preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The amended charges border on alleged criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to commit forgery, procurement fraud and conspiracy to commit a felony.

When shown the documents which purportedly emanated from the office of the president, the former SGF said: “On the face value of the document, I can say having served five years and seven months, this document did not emanate from the office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Disputing the authenticity of the letter from the president, Boss said “A correspondence that carries the seal of the president of Nigeria does not carry a reference number. The seal is the authority”.

“The Federal Executive Council (FEC) decisions are not transmitted by letters. They are transmitted through extracts after conclusions are adopted,” he said.

“I am the custodian of the record of FEC, for that reason, the president cannot refer any executive conclusion to me.

“All the years I have served, I have never heard of the term “special appropriation provision”. The two terms known to me are appropriation as provided for by the Appropriation Act passed by the National Assembly. The second is when the government finds a gap, it brings a 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.

“The signature is a failed attempt at reproducing President Muhammadu Buhari’s signature. But I will leave that to the experts.”