The trial of former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, continued at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on March 7, revealing a gripping revelation as forensic analyst Bamaiyi Meriga, called by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), asserted that the documents used to request a $6.2 million payment for foreign election observers were potentially forged.
Meriga, testifying under oath, disclosed the outcomes of his comprehensive forensic analysis, pointing to clear evidence of signature forgery and a notable disparity in the seal of execution when compared to the genuine documents.
Critical to the testimony, Meriga confirmed that the signatures on the contested documents did not align with those of former President Muhammadu Buhari and ex-Secretary General of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha. The trial judge, Justice Muazu, admitted the two pivotal documents—Presidential Directive on Foreign Observer Election—as evidence.
As the court proceedings unfolded, Emefiele's counsel, Matthew Burkaa, expressed dissatisfaction with Meriga's conduct, accusing the witness of evading questions and misleading the court. In response, Meriga clarified his standing, emphasizing that he was not an EFCC staff and received his salary through the Nigeria Immigration Service.
Tensions flared in the courtroom as both the defense and prosecution counsels engaged in a heated exchange over the credibility of the witness. Burkaa criticized Meriga's testimony, while Prosecution Counsel Rotimi Oyedepo staunchly defended the witness's integrity.
The trial now stands adjourned until March 11, with the expectation of further revelations. Emefiele faces an array of charges, including corrupt advantages, conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery, and obtaining by false pretenses, all linked to the alleged misappropriation of $6,230,000. The former CBN Governor is accused of impersonating the SGF to illicitly acquire the substantial sum.
In a surprising turn, the former SGF appeared before the court, vehemently denying any knowledge of the transaction. He stressed that the disputed document did not originate from the office of then-President Buhari, emphasizing that it fell beyond the scope of his responsibilities during his tenure, which concluded in May 2023 after five years and seven months of service. As the legal proceedings unfold, the intricacies surrounding Emefiele's charges and the alleged forgery promise to shape the narrative of this high-stakes trial.
