The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has denied involvement in the alleged diversion of $6.2 million meant for international election observers in the 2023 general election.
Mustapha, who served as the SGF from 2018 to 2023, was testifying as the second prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday.
Emefiele is facing charges of fraud, abuse of office, and money laundering for allegedly authorising the payment of $6.2 million in cash to a Special Task Force headed by one Jibril Abubakar, who claimed to be representing the international election observers.
The prosecution, led by Rotimi Oyedapo SAN, alleged that Emefiele acted on a “fake memo” purportedly from the office of the former President, Muhammadu Buhari, and approved by the former SGF, Mustapha.
However, Mustapha told the court that he never raised or signed such a memo, nor was he aware of any such transaction during his tenure as the SGF.
“All through my years in service at my capacity, I never came across such a document. Having served for five years, seven months, I can say this document did not emanate from the office of the President,” he said.
He also faulted the correspondence Emefiele claimed came from the President’s office with a reference number, pointing out that, “once a correspondence has the President’s seal, there is no need for a reference number, because the seal is the authority”.
He added that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) decisions were not transmitted by letters but through extracts, after conclusions were adopted.
“I am a custodian of all records, therefore, the President cannot give me the records, and in all my years in service, I have never heard the term ‘Special Appropriation Provision’ that is referred to here. And lastly, The Nigerian government has nothing to do with financing foreign observers. I know for a fact because I managed two elections, so the responsibility of such lies with INEC,” he said.
Mustapha also denied the claim that the FEC approved the payment of $6.2 million for election observers at its 187th meeting held on January 18, 2023. He said that there was no such meeting or approval, and that the first FEC meeting of the year was presided over by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, because the President was not around.
Mustapha further told the court that he was not aware of any Special Taskforce and had no idea who Jibril Abubakar is.
“I wish to state my Lord that, I am not aware of any Special Taskforce and I do not know one Jibril Abubakar, Principal Officer One, who was alleged as the coordinator of this Taskforce, so I did not introduce any Abubakar to CBN governor,” he said.
While on cross-examination, Mathiew Bukka SAN, asked whether Mustapha received any amount from the money, he said he did not receive a single dollar when he was serving and when he left office.
Mustapha denied knowledge of knowing Abubakar, stressing that he had never met him, nor did he ever work for him.
After his testimony, Justice Muazu adjourned the case to March 7, 11 and 25, 2024, for continuation of the trial.
Emefiele, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, is currently on bail on self-recognition
