During the trial of Mr. Godwin Emefiele, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), on Thursday, March 7, 2024, Bamaiyi Haruna Mairiga, the Sixth Prosecution Witness (PW6), informed Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja that forensic analysis revealed the forgery of signatures belonging to former President Muhammadu Buhari and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha. These forgeries were purportedly linked to a payment of $6.2 million to foreign election observers during the 2023 General Election.
Led by prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Mairiga, a forensic expert, presented evidence indicating discrepancies between the questioned signatures and authentic specimens. He stated that the forensic evaluation of the “Presidential Directive on Foreign Observers Election A” and “Presidential Directive on Foreign Observer Election A2” revealed clear signs of forgery in both signatures and the seal of execution.
Mairiga explained, “The examination concluded that the questioned signatures showed suspicious evidence of forgery or copying, evidenced by differences in line quality, form, skill of execution, and pen movement compared to the genuine specimens.”
He further detailed the variations in pen movements, strokes, loops, tremors, and individual characteristics between the disputed signatures and authentic specimens. The court admitted the aforementioned documents into evidence.
Under cross-examination by Emefiele’s counsel, Matthew Burkaa, SAN, Mairiga disclosed his employment history, having been seconded to the EFCC from the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in 2018. After the cross-examination, Justice Muazu discharged Mairiga and adjourned the proceedings to March 11, 2024.
Earlier testimonies revealed Emefiele’s approval of the $6.2 million payment for international election observers, as disclosed by Ogau Onyeka Michael, a former CBN Abuja Branch Controller, and the denial of involvement by Boss Gida Mustapha, former SGF.
Mustapha asserted, “Throughout my tenure, I never encountered such a document. Having served for five years, seven months.”
