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

Boss Mustapha, Former Nigeria’s SFG

The Director of Public Prosecution, Rotimi Oyedepo, has said those involved with the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, in the alleged theft of $6.23 million from the Abuja branch of the bank will be prosecuted.

Oyedepo stated this in court while reacting to the testimony of the federal government’s star witness and the Special Investigator Jim Obazee in Abuja High Court last week.

President Bola Tinubu appointed Jim Obazee as his Special Investigator in July 2023 to probe alleged malfeasance within the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and related government entities. One of the discoveries in his investigation was the theft of $6.23 million at the Abuja branch of the apex bank, and among the charges for which the former CBN governor, Emefiele, is standing trial.

Obazee, while testifying before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Abuja High Court last Friday, wondered why all individuals allegedly connected to the $6.2 million fraud are not being prosecuted together with Emefiele.

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Led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), and cross-examined by defence counsel, Matthew Bukar (SAN), Obazee maintained that the alleged fraud involved more than 10 individuals and questioned why only Emefiele is currently standing trial.

During his testimony, Obazee disclosed that the investigation linked several individuals to the transaction, including former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Emefiele’s former Personal Assistant, Eric Odoh,  Eric Odoh’s driver and gatekeeper, Emmanuel Odeh Dickson, Jibril Abubakar, Bashirudeen Maishanu, among others.

He criticised what he described as the selective prosecution of Emefiele, insisting that everyone allegedly involved should be investigated and prosecuted in the interest of justice.

Obazee told the court that £856,500 had already been recovered from Bashirudeen Maishanung, who confessed to diverting part of the funds. He argued that the recovery and confession further demonstrated that several individuals were connected to the transaction.

Responding to questions about his interview with former SGF Boss Mustapha, Obazee said Mustapha did not deny signing the letter requesting the release of the funds. He therefore questioned why Mustapha had not been charged alongside Emefiele.

The witness also raised concerns over the alleged letter authorising the payment, reportedly signed by Boss Mustapha on the instruction of the late President Muhammadu Buhari. 

According to Obazee, the document did not appear in the official presidential handover notes, prompting questions about why neither Mustapha nor the late former President Buhari had been implicated in the case.

Obazee maintained that every individual allegedly connected to the transaction should be held accountable, adding that those who have since died should also be officially identified in the court proceedings to ensure a complete record of the case.

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

Following the testimony and submissions by both the prosecution and defence, Justice Hamza Muazu adjourned the matter to October 20, 2026, for continuation of trial.