The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja heard the trial of Godwin Emefiele, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), on Thursday. A forensic analyst verified that the documents used to demand the payment of $6.2 million for foreign election observers were falsified.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) called witness Bamaiyi Meriga, who told the court that forensic examination of the contested documents revealed blatant indications of signature forgery and that the execution seal was not authentic.
Additionally, he attested to the fact that the signatures did not belong to the previous Secretary General of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, or President Muhammadu Buhari.
The trial court, Justice Muazu, acknowledged the two documents—the presidential directive on foreign observer elections and the presidential directive on foreign observer elections—as evidence.
The witness claimed, on cross-examination by Emefiele’s attorney, that he was not an employee of the EFCC and that the Nigeria Immigration Service was the source of his salary rather than the anti-graft organization.
Matthew Burkaa, the attorney for Emefiele, expressed his disgust with the witness’s behavior, claiming that the witness deceived the court by dodging questions.
Rotimi Oyedepo, the prosecution’s attorney, was not pleased with the defense attorney, though.
The trial has been postponed until March 11 in order to continue.
