Documents Emefiele Used To Request $6.2m Payment For Election Observers Forged, Forensic Analyst Tells Court

A forensic analyst, Mr. Bamaiyi Meriga, has confirmed that the documents used by the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, to request the payment of $6.2 million for foreign election observers were forged.

Meriga made the disclosure before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, as the trial of the embattled former CBN governor continued on Thursday.

The forensic analyst called by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) informed the court that, following forensic analysis of the disputed documents, he discovered that there was clear evidence of forgery of signature and that the seal of execution was different from the original.

He also confirmed that the signatures were not those of former President Muhammadu Buhari and ex-Secretary General of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha.

The two documents, Presidential Directive on Foreign Observer Election and Presidential Directive on Foreign Observer Election, were admitted as evidence by the trial judge, Justice Muazu.

Under cross-examination by counsel for Emefiele, the witness said he was not a staff member of the EFCC and was not being paid by the anti-graft agency, but his salary was domiciled with the Nigeria Immigration Service.

Counsel for Emefiele, Matthew Burkaa (SAN), expressed displeasure over the conduct of the witness, saying that the witness misled the court by evading questions.

The trial was adjourned until March 11 for continuation.

Persecondnews reports that Emefiele is standing trial before Justice Muazu on 20-count amended charges bordering on corrupt advantages, conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery, and obtaining by false pretenses to the tune of $6,230,000 million.

He was also accused of impersonating the immediate past Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, to illegally obtain a sum of $6.2 million.

The ex-SGF had testified before the court in February, saying he knew nothing about the transaction.

He added that having served for five years and seven months, the document in contention didn’t emanate from the office of then-President Buhari.