$6.2m fraud: FG declares CBN official, 2 others wanted for forging Buhari’s signature

The Special Investigator appointed by President Bola Tinubu has asked the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) to place a staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Odoh Eric Ocheme, and two other persons on its watchlist for allegedly forging the signature of former President Muhammadu Buhari to steal $6.2 million cash from the apex bank.

The two other suspects are Adamu Abubakar and Imam Abubakar.

The Star had reported that the immediate past Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, said a forged signature of Buhari was used for the withdrawal of $6.2 million from the coffers of CBN for international election observers in the 2023 general election.

Mustapha declared that the documents didn’t emanate from Buhari or the SGF office.

The former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, is also indicted in the alleged fraudulent payment.

However, the Special Investigator appointed by Tinubu, in a letter dated February 12, 2024, asked Interpol to place Ocheme and his two accomplices (now at large) on red notice.

The letter signed by the Head of Operation, Office of Special Investigator, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Eloho Okpoziakpo, was addressed to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, National Central Bureau (NCB), and Interpol.

Ex-SGF: Buhari’s signature forged to withdraw $6.2m from CBN

The letter read: “The Special Investigator, appointed by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to investigate the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Related Entities and other key government business entities (KGBEs) kindly requests you to place the above-named individuals on INTERPOL Red Notice.

“In the course of the Special Investigator’s assignment, Mr. Odoh Ocheme, (a staff of the CBN) now at large and the other two accomplices, also now at large, were discovered to have conspired and forged documents in the name of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria with which they stole about US$6,230,000 (Six Million, Two Hundred and Thirty Thousand Dollars, in cash, from the coffers of the CBN.

“Consequent upon the above, a charge was filed and warrants of arrest have been issued by the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Abuja Division, presided over by Hon. Justice I.E. Ekwo in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/19/2024 B/w: Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Adamu Abubakar & 2 Ors for the arrest and production of the Defendants named above for their arraignment. The data page of Odoh Ocheme’s Nigerian International Passport No. B50082800, duly certified true copies of the warrants and the Order of the Court to that effect are hereby attached.

“The Special Investigator, therefore, pray you to use your good offices to request that the Defendants be placed on Interpol Red Notice with a view to apprehending and repatriating them from any of the Interpol member states to which they may have flown.”

Meanwhile, the Federal Government, in another document obtained by The Star on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, has also filed extradition charges against Ocheme and his two accomplices for allegedly forging the signature of Buhari to steal $6.2 million from the CBN coffers.

The Star