Crime
Buhari’s Signature Forged To Withdraw $6.2m From CBN, – Ex-SGF, Mustapha
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha has disclosed that ex-President Muhammadu Buhari’s signature was forged by those who withdrew $6,230,000 from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on February 8, 2023.
Mustapha, who was testifying on Tuesday in the trial of former Governor of the CBN, Godwin Emefiele, said his signature was also forged.
He added that he knew nothing about the money said to have been withdrawn for the payment of foreign election observers.
The ex-SGF, who spoke as a prosecution witness, told a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama that it was not the business of the Federal Government or the office of the SGF to request for funds from the CBN for the payment of foreign election observers.
He said it was solely the responsibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deal with issues relating to election observers and other election-related matters.
A Deputy Director in the CBN, Michael Onyeka Ogbu had told the court on Monday that the money was handed in cash to an official from the office of the SGF named Jibril Abubakar upon approvals by President Buhari and Emefiele following a request by the SGF.
The prosecution is accusing Emefiele of being behind the withdrawal.
Led in evidence by the lawyer to the prosecution, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), Mustapha, dressed in blue kaftan and a cap, identified Emefiele (who was seated in the dock) when asked if he knew who the defendant in the case was.
Mustapha, who said he is a lawyer and called to the Nigerian Bar in 1980, said Emefiele was the Governor of the CBN when he served as the SGF from 2017 to 2023.
When asked if he knew anything about the transaction relating to the payment of the $6,230,000, Mustapha said: “I wish to state that, up until when I left office, I knew nothing about this transaction.”
He was then shown a document, marked as Exhibit PD7 said to be a letter from President Buhari, approving the payment and asked if he recognised the document.
Mustapha said he was seeing the document for the first time in the court and that he never came across the document before.
He added: “On the face value of this document, having served (as the SGF) for five years and months, I can say that this document did not emanate from the office of the president.”
He gave reasons why he believed the document was not from Buhari to include that a correspondence that has the seal of the President, does not carry a reference number, adding that the seal serves the authority.
“Looking at the signature, it is a faint attempt at reproducing President Muhammadu Buhari’s signature,” he said.
He also faulted the document on the ground that it was purported to convey a decision of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), which is not normally conveyed via letters.
“I have looked at it. I have read it. Federal Executive Council’s decisions are not transmitted by letter. They are transmitted through extracts. After conclusions are adopted.
“I am the custodian of the record of the Federal Executive Council. So for that reason, the President will not be referring the conclusion of EXCO to me.
“In all the five years and seven months that I served, I have never heard of the term – Special Appropriation Provision – that was referred to here (in the letter),” Mustapha said.
The witness said he was only familiar with appropriation, as provided by the Appropriation Act passed by the National Assembly and Supplementary Appropriation.
He also faulted the concluding part of the letter, saying that it was unusual for the President to end his letter to the SGF by saying “Please accept the assurances of my highest regard.”
He said being the President’s subordinate, his letter to the SGF cannot end in that manner.
Mustapha also said the Nigerian government has no business funding foreign election observers, adding: “That I know as a fact because I have managed two election circles. INEC has the sole responsibility in that area.”
On the claim in the letter that the decision to approve money for foreign election observers was taken at the 187th FEC meeting held on January 18, 2023, the witness said it was not true.
He agreed that there was actually a FEC meeting on January 18, 2023 but that the meeting was presided over by the Vice President because the President was not around.
The witness also said the issue of payment to foreign election observers never featured on the meeting’s agenda which he prepared as the SGF.
“My role as the secretary is to prepare the agenda for the meeting and on that day there was a 16-point agenda. There was no item on the agenda that has to do with payment to foreign election observers,” he pointed out.
When shown another document, marked: Exhibit PD6, said to be his letter conveying the presidential approval to the Governor of the CBN, Mustapha also faulted it.
He said: “To the best of my knowledge, this letter did not emanate from the office of the SGF. If it did not emanate from the office, then I did not sign it. No, I did not sign it.”
A 45-year-old woman, Mrs. Oluchi Ugbowan, has been arrested by the Edo State Police Command for allegedly orchestrating her own kidnapping in a desperate attempt to extort N50 million from her family.
Police said the suspect, alongside three accomplices, staged an elaborate kidnapping drama, complete with videos showing her bound and allegedly held captive, in a bid to convince relatives that she had fallen into the hands of kidnappers.
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The Edo State Police Command disclosed on Tuesday that the scheme was uncovered following a complaint lodged by Mrs. Ugbowan’s husband, Mr. Tony Ugbowan, who reported that his wife had been kidnapped while on her way to her shop at Ramat Park along Agbor Road in Benin City.
According to police spokesperson ASP Eno Ikedem, the husband told investigators that he had received a call from an unknown individual using a concealed phone number, demanding a ransom of N50 million for his wife’s release.
The report prompted operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit to launch an intensive investigation, combining intelligence gathering and technical tracking to uncover the truth behind the alleged abduction.
The breakthrough came with the arrest of one Israel Ability, 28, at Ramat Park, Agbor Road, Benin City. During the operation, detectives recovered a mobile phone belonging to the supposed victim.
Police said Ability later confessed during interrogation that the kidnapping was staged and that he had been recruited by Mrs. Ugbowan to negotiate ransom payments with her family while pretending she had been abducted.
Further investigations led officers to a hotel in Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State, where Mrs. Ugbowan was arrested on June 5, 2026.
During questioning, she allegedly admitted to masterminding the fake kidnapping and subsequently led investigators to the residence of another suspect, Ochukwudem Uwadia, 38, in Delta State.
According to the police, Uwadia’s residence served as the location where the fake kidnapping videos were produced.
The clips reportedly showed Mrs. Ugbowan with her hands and feet tied while emotional appeals for ransom were directed at her family.
Investigators also discovered that Uwadia’s 18-year-old son, Chibuzor Ochukwudem, allegedly participated in the scheme and was seen pointing a firearm at Mrs. Ugbowan’s head in the videos to make the kidnapping appear genuine.
Police said all four suspects connected to the alleged conspiracy have now been arrested.
A search conducted at the premises used for the production of the videos led to the recovery of an automatic pump-action gun allegedly used during the recording of the ransom footage.
The Edo State Police Command said the suspects will face prosecution upon the conclusion of investigations, warning members of the public against engaging in criminal schemes disguised as kidnapping incidents.
The European Union has imposed a €200 million fine on Chinese-owned online retail platform Temu over the sale of illegal and unsafe products across its marketplace.
EU regulators announced the penalty on Thursday, accusing the e-commerce giant of failing to properly prevent dangerous items from reaching consumers within the bloc.
According to the European Commission, European shoppers were highly likely to encounter illegal products on Temu, including unsafe baby toys, defective chargers, and jewellery that failed safety standards.
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The EU said Temu failed to adequately assess the risks linked to illegal products being sold on its platform, adding that the company underestimated the level of harm such items could pose to consumers.
EU tech commissioner Henna Virkkunen said Temu’s rapid expansion in Europe made the issue more concerning, noting that millions of users could potentially be exposed to unsafe products.
Temu, however, disagreed with the decision and described the fine as “disproportionate.” The company stated that it had cooperated with regulators and already introduced additional measures to improve platform governance and user safety.
The sanction was issued under the European Union’s Digital Services Act, a major law aimed at holding large digital platforms accountable for illegal content and consumer risks online.
The platform, which entered the European market in 2023, has grown rapidly and now boasts about 130 million users within the EU.
Regulators also disclosed that investigations into other suspected breaches by Temu are still ongoing, including concerns over addictive app features and its recommendation systems.
Temu has been given until August 28 to submit a compliance plan outlining how it intends to address the violations or risk facing further penalties.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, over his alleged involvement in a N33.8 billion fraud linked to power sector projects in Nigeria.
The arrest comes months after Mamman was convicted in absentia on multiple counts bordering on the alleged diversion of public funds meant for critical electricity infrastructure, including the Mambilla Power Project and other national power initiatives.
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EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, confirmed that the former minister was apprehended at about 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday in the Rigasa area of Kaduna State following weeks of intelligence-led surveillance operations.
According to him, Mamman had evaded arrest since his conviction and sentencing, prompting a sustained nationwide search by EFCC operatives.
He said the arrest represents a major breakthrough in the commission’s efforts to ensure that all individuals found guilty of financial crimes are brought to justice, regardless of their status or influence.
Two suspects arrested for allegedly harbouring ex-minister
The EFCC also disclosed that two other individuals were arrested during the operation for allegedly assisting and providing shelter to the former minister while he was on the run.
Investigators are currently questioning the suspects to determine the extent of their involvement in aiding a convicted fugitive.
Properties and assets under investigation
The anti-graft agency further revealed that it has identified additional properties suspected to be linked to Mamman, adding that asset recovery processes are already underway.
EFCC boss Olukoyede noted that the case has exposed weaknesses in monitoring high-profile corruption trials, adding that reforms would be introduced to prevent similar lapses in future cases.
Prosecutor confirms enforcement of court order
The Director of Public Prosecution, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), said the arrest marks the enforcement of a court judgment, stating that Mamman’s conviction and sentence are now being fully implemented following his capture.
He added that the next step would be the ex-minister’s transfer to a correctional facility in line with legal procedures.
Bizteller recalls that Saleh Mamman was convicted over allegations of diverting funds allocated for major power projects, including the Mambilla hydroelectric scheme, one of Nigeria’s largest and most strategic energy investments.
The EFCC says the arrest underscores its commitment to tackling corruption and recovering stolen public funds across the country.
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