Emefiele Trial: Investigator Wants Buhari, Mustapha, CBN Board Prosecuted Over Alleged $6.2m Theft

A special investigator appointed by President Bola Tinubu has called for the prosecution of high-profile figures, including the late former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha, in connection with the alleged theft of $6.2 million from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Jim Obazee, the investigator, expressed astonishment in court that only former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele is facing charges for the alleged misappropriation of funds. Emefiele is currently on trial for 20 counts, including criminal breach of trust and procurement fraud, related to the sum of $6,230,000 purportedly allocated for international election observers during the 2023 general elections. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has been granted bail.

During the testimony of the prosecution's final witness, Obazee demanded that all individuals implicated in the alleged crime be brought to justice. He specifically named the late President Buhari, Mustapha, a CBN staff member from whom $856,500 was allegedly recovered, a staffer in the former SGF's office, the Abuja branch manager of the CBN, and the bank's Board of Governors.

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why the others are not standing over the stealing of the $6.2 million from the federal government foreign exchange account domiciled at the CBN.

Obazee's strong stance was fueled by conflicting documents. He presented a letter from the Presidency indicating that Buhari had authorized the release of the $6.2 million, alongside a letter from the SGF's office instructing Emefiele to disburse the funds to a Jibril Abubakar, identified as an SGF staff member collecting the money. However, Mustapha later submitted letters and made extra-judicial statements asserting that both Buhari and himself were unaware of the initial letter ordering the release for election observers' logistics.

Witnessing these discrepancies, Obazee voiced his frustration, calling Nigeria's situation unfortunate. He questioned why only Emefiele was being prosecuted for an alleged fraud involving over ten individuals, expressing apparent anger at the situation.

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the situation with Nigeria was unfortunate, especially for the federal government to have put only Emefiele on trial in an alleged fraud that involves more than 10 people.