Forensic Expert Reveals Buhari, Ex-SGF’s Signatures Was Forged to Defraud CBN of $6.2m

The forensic document examiner seconded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Bamaiyi Haruna has said the analysis conducted on the documents used to release $6.2m from the Central Bank of Nigeria in February 2023 showed that they were forged.

The EFCC had alleged that on February 8, 2023, former CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, connived with one Odoh Ocheme, who is now on the run, to obtain $6.2m from the CBN, claiming that it was requested by the SGF via a letter dated 26th January 2023.

At the last adjourned date, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, noted that the documents did not emanate from former President Muhammadu Buhari or his office.

Mustapha also told the court that the Federal Government had no business with foreign election observers.

Haruna, who is the sixth prosecution witness in the matter, stated that the real signatures of Buhari and the ex-SGF were analysed with the ones in the documents were not the same.

Counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo(SAN), applied to the court to tender the forensic report dated January 25, 2024, and other documents attached as exhibits.

Emefiele’s lawyer, Mathew Burkaa (SAN), did not oppose.

Justice Hamza Muazu subsequently admitted as evident and marked them exhibits.

During cross-examination, Burkaa asked how would the court determine whether two signatures are similar or dissimilar.

The witness urged the court to rely on the report.