FG To Prosecute Boss Mustapha, Others over $6.23m CBN Theft

 

FG to Prosecute All Linked to Alleged $6.23m CBN Fraud, Says DPP

The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), has said that every individual found to have participated in the alleged theft of $6.23 million from the Abuja branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will face prosecution.

Oyedepo made the declaration at the Abuja High Court while responding to issues raised during the testimony of the Federal Government's star witness and Special Investigator, Jim Obazee, in the ongoing trial of former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

President Bola Tinubu appointed Obazee in July 2023 as Special Investigator to probe alleged financial misconduct within the CBN and other government agencies. Among the findings of the investigation was the alleged diversion of $6.23 million from the apex bank's Abuja branch, one of the allegations for which Emefiele is currently standing trial.

While testifying before Justice Hamza Muazu last Friday, Obazee questioned why only Emefiele had been charged despite the investigation allegedly implicating more than 10 individuals.

Led in evidence by Oyedepo and cross-examined by defence counsel, Matthew Bukar, Obazee maintained that the alleged fraud involved several persons and insisted that justice required that all those connected with the transaction be investigated and prosecuted.

According to him, those allegedly linked to the transaction include former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; Emefiele's former Personal Assistant, Eric Odoh; Odoh's driver and gatekeeper, Emmanuel Odeh Dickson; Jibril Abubakar; Bashirudeen Maishanu; and several others.

Obazee criticised what he described as the selective prosecution of Emefiele, arguing that all suspects should be treated equally under the law.

He further told the court that £856,500 had been recovered from Bashirudeen Maishanu, who allegedly confessed to diverting part of the funds. According to the witness, the recovery and confession reinforced the conclusion that multiple individuals were involved in the transaction.

Speaking on his interview with former SGF Boss Mustapha, Obazee said Mustapha did not deny signing the letter requesting the release of the funds. He questioned why Mustapha had not been arraigned alongside Emefiele.

The witness also referred to a letter authorising the release of the funds, allegedly signed by Mustapha on the instruction of the late President Muhammadu Buhari. Obazee said the document was not contained in the official presidential handover notes, raising questions over why neither Mustapha nor the late former President had been implicated in the case.

Obazee maintained that everyone allegedly connected to the transaction should be held accountable, adding that individuals who have since died should also be formally identified in the court records to ensure a complete account of the matter.

He argued that prosecuting all those allegedly involved would serve as a deterrent against corruption and strengthen public confidence in Nigeria's justice system.

Responding to the issues raised, Oyedepo assured the court that the Federal Government would prosecute every person found to have played a role in the alleged fraud, stressing that investigations and legal processes were ongoing.

After hearing submissions from both the prosecution and the defence, Justice Hamza Muazu adjourned the case until October 20, 2026, for the continuation of trial.