Nigeria investigator seeks trial for late Buhari, ex-SGF Mustapha over $6.23m alleged loot

A special investigator appointed by President Bola Tinubu has called for the posthumous prosecution of late President Muhammadu Buhari and the trial of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha in connection with an alleged $6.23 million fraud involving the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

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The situation in Nigeria is a very unfortunate one, especially for the federal government to have put only Emefiele on trial in an alleged fraud that involved more than 10 people.

Jim Obazee, testifying as the 15th Prosecution Witness in the trial of former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele, told an Abuja High Court that Mustapha should face trial for the alleged looting of the funds. Emefiele is currently on trial for charges including criminal breach of trust, abuse of office, and conspiracy to obtain money by false pretenses, related to the alleged misappropriation of $6.2 million intended for international election observers for the 2023 general election.

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For actions and inactions, Buhari ought to be charged and must be charged along with Emefiele in this fraud, even if posthumously, since national honors are given posthumously.

Obazee, who is leading the prosecution, stated that the alleged fraud involved more than 10 people and criticized the government for putting only Emefiele on trial. He dismissed denials of involvement from the Presidency and the former SGF, demanding in open court that Mustapha be brought to justice alongside Emefiele. Obazee also called for the prosecution of the manager of the CBN's Abuja branch, citing a lack of due diligence in releasing the funds.

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As for Mustapha, as far as I am concerned, he did deny to me that he did not sign the documents from his office which initiated the request for the $6. 2m and led to the release of the amount to a person who claimed to be a staff of his office.

The investigator further demanded the arrest and prosecution of Jibril Abubakar, who allegedly collected the funds purportedly on the SGF's authority, and Bashirudeen Maishanu, a current CBN staffer who reportedly refunded $856,500 to the investigation panel. Obazee argued that Buhari, Mustapha, and others should face charges similar to Emefiele to serve as a deterrent and reduce Nigeria's problems.

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Whatever you are doing to Emefiele by way of prosecution ought to have been done to Buhari, Mustapha, Maishanu and former board members of the CBN under Emefiele