Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, has responded to a report alleging his involvement in the alleged illegal withdrawal of $6.3 million from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The report had claimed that, Jim Obazee, a special investigator appointed by President Bola Tinubu uncovered the alleged theft that reportedly occurred on February 8, 2023 weeks before the presidential election.
The report further accused Mustapha and Godwin Emefiele of authorising the removal of the cash from the bank’s vault under the guise of funding foreign election observer missions.
The investigator’s report was alleged to have claimed CCTV footage captured how the money was moved out of the CBN.
Mustapha, in statement made available to journalists on Saturday, vehemently denied the accusations, branding them “outrageous and unsubstantiated.”
The former SGF described the article as a “malicious fabrication” and an “orchestrated” attempt to assassinate my character and besmirch my reputation.”
Mustapha said that he lacked knowledge of the purported “Presidential Directive” cited in the report as justification for the withdrawal.
According to him, he was never involved in discussions or transactions related to any payments for foreign election observers.
While questioning the timing of the allegations, he pointed to the sensitive pre-Christmas period as a deliberate attempt to exploit public sentiment and sow seeds of doubt.
Mustapha demanded a thorough and transparent investigation into the matter, even as he urged the authorities involved to probe the source of the fabricated documents and expose those behind the “smear” campaign.”
He appealed to the public and media to exercise critical thinking and not succumb to misinformation.
His response reads in part:
“The article hinges on the dubious premise of forged documents and a misleading narrative. It claims that $6.3 million was withdrawn from the CBN vaults based on a purported “Presidential Directive” bearing the signature of President Buhari. This document, unsurprisingly, has not been presented for public scrutiny. In fact, I have no knowledge of such a directive, nor was I ever involved in any discussions or transactions regarding the alleged payment to foreign election observers.
“I demand a thorough and transparent investigation into this matter. Let the relevant authorities probe the source of these fabricated documents and expose those responsible for this malicious attempt to damage my reputation. I have nothing to hide and welcome any legitimate investigation that sheds light on the truth.
“Throughout my career in public service, I have always upheld the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct. I have served with dedication and transparency, and my record speaks for itself. I will not allow this baseless and defamatory attack to go unchallenged. I will defend my reputation vigorously and ensure that the truth prevails.
“This is not just about me; it is about upholding the integrity of public service and safeguarding the reputation of those who have served this country with honour. I trust that the Nigerian people will see through this orchestrated attack and recognize it for what it truly is: a desperate attempt to silence a voice of reason and integrity.”
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