The funds were withdrawn last January, months before Buhari’s term ended.
Nigeria is seeking the help of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to arrest three suspects suspected of stealing $6.2 million from the central bank using forged signatures of former President Muhammadu Buhari.according to British Broadcasting CorporationThe funds were withdrawn in cash last January, months before Buhari’s term ended. Authorities believe the suspects conspired with Godwin Emefiele, Nigeria’s former central bank governor, who is already on trial on 20 charges, including illegally receiving $6.2 million.
Mr Emefiele is the most high-profile former official to be accused of corruption since President Bola Tinubu took office in May. Although Emefiele denies all charges and is currently out on bail, authorities claim that Mr Emefiele illegally authorized the withdrawal of the money from the central bank’s vaults, claiming that the money was obtained by then Secretary to the Government of the Federation Bos Asked for. Mustafa.
Mr Emefiele’s alleged co-conspirators are Adamu Abubakar, Imam Abubakar and former central bank employee Odoh Ocheme, British Broadcasting Corporation According to Nigeria’s state-run news agency.
The government ordered their arrests on Tuesday, hours after Mr Mustafa testified at Mr Emefiele’s trial. Mr Mustafa told a court in the capital, Abuja, that neither he nor Mr Buhari signed off to approve the withdrawal of $6.2 million.
“Looking at the signature, it’s a weak attempt at copying [former] Mr Mustafa told the court the signature of President Buhari. When presented with the document used to withdraw the funds, Mr Mustafa said it “did not come from the office of the president”.
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Prosecutors believe Mr Emefiele forged documents requiring the central bank to release the money so Mr Buhari could use it to pay foreign election observers. But in December, Mr Emefiele described the allegations as “blatant lies by investigators to further their nefarious agenda”. He called for a “thorough and transparent investigation.”
Prosecutors believe the three suspects have now left Nigeria. As a result, authorities are seeking help from Interpol to arrest and deport them.
Notably, Mr Emefiele was appointed as central bank governor by then-President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014, and Mr Buhari reappointed him in 2019. He held the position until Mr. Tinubu took over.
