Human rights advocate, Pelumi Olajengbesi has called for an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) audit of financial transactions involving all officials from the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The call comes after the revelations emerging from the trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, who faces accusations of a $6.2 million fraud related to foreign observers in the previous election.
In a statement, Olajengbesi commends the EFCC for uncovering the alleged forgery of Buhari’s and ex-Secretary General of the Federation Boss Mustapha’s signatures by Emefiele.
Olajengbesi emphasizes the urgency of curbing the audacity and criminal influence of those in power, calling for a comprehensive audit to deter misconduct. He highlights the recent case of Ahmad Salihijo, the suspended Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency, as evidence of abuse of power by officials who served under Buhari.
Olajengbesi urges a thorough audit of Emefiele and all individuals associated with the Buhari administration, allowing them an opportunity to clear their names amid the perceived widespread corruption during that period.
Witnesses, including an EFCC official and forensic document examiner Bamaiyi Haruna, have testified against Emefiele, presenting evidence of forged documents used to release $6.2 million from the CBN in February 2023. Other witnesses, such as ex-SGF Mustapha and deputy director at the apex bank Onyeka Ogbu, further support claims of fraudulent activity.
The EFCC officially arraigned Emefiele on June 18, 2023, on 20 counts, accusing him of impersonating Mustapha to unlawfully transfer funds from the CBN vault. The charges allege Emefiele collaborated with Odoh Ocheme, currently evading authorities, to obtain $6.2 million from the CBN under the guise of a request by the SGF, as per a letter dated January 26, 2023, with reference number SGF.43/L.01/.
Olajengbesi’s call for a comprehensive audit of the financial transactions of officials from the Buhari administration is based on the perceived widespread corruption during that period. The recent revelations from the trial of Godwin Emefiele, former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, have raised concerns about the abuse of power and criminal influence of those in power.