Court hears that $6 million was fraudulently withdrawn using a fake signature of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari

The Nigerian government is seeking assistance from Interpol in apprehending three individuals accused of stealing $6.2 million from the country's central bank using a forged signature of former President Muhammadu Buhari. It is believed that the suspects colluded with former central bank chief Godwin Emefiele, who is already on trial facing multiple charges, including the illegal receipt of the stolen funds. Emefiele has vehemently denied the allegations and is currently out on bail. He is the most prominent former official to be charged with corruption since President Bola Tinubu assumed office last year. Prosecutors also claim that Emefiele authorized the release of the money from the central bank vault. Emefiele's alleged accomplices have been identified as Adamu Abubakar, Imam Abubakar, and Odoh Ocheme, a former central bank employee. The suspects have reportedly left Nigeria, prompting the authorities to seek Interpol's assistance in apprehending and repatriating them. None of the three suspects have yet commented on the accusations against them. The government issued arrest orders for the suspects following statements by Boss Mustapha, a senior official in former President Buhari's administration, who testified in Emefiele's trial. Mustapha stated in court that neither he nor Buhari had given their consent to withdraw the $6.2 million, and described the signature on the document as a poor imitation of Buhari's. The funds were withdrawn in cash in January of last year, shortly before the end of Buhari's term. Prosecutors allege that Emefiele falsified the document so that the funds could be used to pay foreign election observers on behalf of Buhari. Emefiele was initially appointed as the central bank governor in 2014 by then-President Goodluck Jonathan, and was reappointed by Buhari in 2019. He held the position until President Tinubu assumed office.