$6.2m CBN fraud: FG asks Interpol to watchlist 3 Emefiele’s accomplices
Kunle Sanni
The federal government has requested that the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) arrest three defendants in connection with the alleged withdrawal of $6.2 million from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) last year using a falsified certificate.
Read: Emefiele requested for the disbursement of $6.2m to observers, witness reveals
The request was made on Monday by the CBN’s Special Investigator, Jim Obazee’s office, following acquisition of an order from the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The defendants were identified by Obazee’s office as Adamu Abubakar, Imam Abubakar, and Odoh Ochene in a letter written by Eloho Okpoziakpo, head of operations.
In the latest amended charge before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, the anti-graft agency, EFCC accused Emefiele of conniving with Ocheme, who is now on the run, to obtain $6.2million from the CBN.
According to the amended charge marked CR/577/2023, on February 8, 2023, the EFCC accused Emefiele of impersonating the Secretary to the Government, Boss Mustafa of the Federation to illegally obtain the aforementioned amount.
The duo had claimed that it was requested by the SGF “via a letter dated 26th January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201.”
According to the EFCC, Emefiele allegedly claimed that the SGF requested the CBN to release “a contingent logistic advance in the sum of $6,230,000.00 in line with Mr. President’s directive.”
The office of the special investigator for the CBN, meanwhile, wrote to INTERPOL requesting that the international police organisation “watchlist” and put the three accused fugitives on its “red notice” in order to apprehend and return them.
