Nigeria is seeking the assistance of Interpol to apprehend three individuals suspected of orchestrating the theft of $6.2 million (approximately Ksh902 million) from the central bank. The suspects allegedly used a forged signature of then-President Muhammadu Buhari in the fraudulent transaction.
Authorities suspect collusion between the individuals and Nigeria’s former central bank chief, Godwin Emefiele. Emefiele, currently facing trial on 20 charges, including the illegal receipt of the $6.2 million, has denied all allegations and is out on bail.
These developments mark one of the highest-profile corruption cases since President Bola Tinubu took office last May. Prosecutors also accuse Emefiele of unlawfully authorizing the release of the funds from the central bank vault. Emefiele vehemently refutes these accusations, labeling them as “barefaced lies” aimed at tarnishing his reputation. He has called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the matter.
The alleged accomplices of Emefiele—Adamu Abubakar, Imam Abubakar, and Odoh Ocheme, a former central bank employee—are believed to have fled Nigeria. Consequently, Nigerian authorities are seeking Interpol’s assistance to arrest and repatriate them. None of the suspects have commented on the allegations against them thus far.
The government issued orders for their arrest shortly after Boss Mustapha, a senior official in former President Buhari’s administration, testified in Emefiele’s trial. Mustapha testified that neither he nor Buhari had authorized the withdrawal of the $6.2 million, casting doubt on the authenticity of the document used for the transaction.
According to Mustapha, the signature on the document appeared to be a “faint attempt” at reproducing President Buhari’s signature, and the document did not originate from the president’s office. The funds were withdrawn in cash just months before the end of Buhari’s term.
Prosecutors allege that Emefiele falsified the document to request the funds from the central bank, purportedly for the payment of foreign election observers. Emefiele, appointed central bank governor in 2014 by then-President Goodluck Jonathan and reappointed by Buhari in 2019, held the position until Tinubu assumed office.
