NIGERIA has reached out to Interpol for support in apprehending three suspects accused of masterminding a $6.2 million theft from the central bank. The theft allegedly involved the use of forged signatures, including that of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Authorities suspect collusion between the suspects and Nigeria’s former central bank chief, Godwin Emefiele, who is already facing trial on 20 charges, including the illicit receipt of the stolen funds. Emefiele maintains his innocence while out on bail.
The trial of Emefiele marks a significant anti-corruption effort under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which commenced last May. Prosecutors claim that Emefiele unlawfully authorised the release of funds from the central bank vault, allegations vehemently denied by Emefiele, who labels them as fabrications aimed at tarnishing his reputation.
According to reports from the state-owned News Agency of Nigeria, the alleged accomplices are named as Adamu Abubakar, Imam Abubakar, and former central bank employee Odoh Ocheme. The suspects are believed to have fled Nigeria, prompting authorities to seek Interpol’s assistance in their arrest and repatriation.
As of now, none of the three suspects have provided comments on the allegations against them.
The government issued arrest warrants for the suspects late on Tuesday, following testimony from Boss Mustapha, a senior official in ex-president Buhari’s administration, during Emefiele’s trial.
Mustapha informed the court in Abuja that neither he nor Buhari had authorised the withdrawal of the $6.2 million, pointing out that the signature on the documents appeared to be a faint reproduction of the former president’s signature. He further stated that the document used for the withdrawal did not originate from the office of the president.
The funds in question were withdrawn in cash in January last year, just a few months before the end of Buhari’s term.