Emefiele: Forensic expert testifies documents used to release $6.2m were forged

Bamaiyi Haruna, a forensic document examiner attached to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), revealed on Thursday that an analysis conducted on documents used to release $6.2 million from the Central Bank of Nigeria in February 2023 showed evidence of forgery.

The EFCC accused former CBN governor Godwin Emefiele of colluding with Odoh Ocheme, now on the run, to obtain $6.2 million from the CBN, claiming it was requested by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) via a letter dated January 26, 2023, with reference number SGF.43/L.01/.

Furthermore, the anti-graft agency alleged that Emefiele forged a document titled “RE: PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE ON FOREIGN ELECTION OBSERVER MISSIONS,” dated January 26, 2023, with reference number SGF.43/L.01/201.

At a previous hearing, former SGF Boss Mustapha stated that the documents did not originate from former President Muhammadu Buhari’s office and clarified that the Federal Government had no involvement with foreign election observers.

Haruna, the sixth prosecution witness, testified that signatures analyzed in the documents did not match those of Buhari and the ex-SGF. He emphasized differences in pen movements, loop formations, and individual characteristics between the disputed signatures and specimen signatures.

Rotimi Oyedepo(SAN), counsel for the EFCC, requested the court to admit the forensic report dated January 25, 2024, along with attached documents as exhibits, a move unopposed by Emefiele’s lawyer, Mathew Burkaa (SAN).

During cross-examination, Burkaa questioned the methodology for determining signature similarity, to which Haruna advocated reliance on the forensic report.

Haruna clarified that Emefiele’s signature was not analyzed and that EFCC operatives were responsible for submitting the materials for analysis.

The court adjourned the matter till March 11 for further proceedings.