By ISMAIL ABDULAZIZ

The Presidency has requested the Interpol National Central Bureau to place a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) staff and two others on its Red Notice.

The request was in connection with their alleged conspiracy and forging of documents in the name of ex-president Muhammadu Buhari to steal the sum of 6.23 million U.S. dollars in cash from the CBN.

A document obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday put the names of Odoh Eric Ocheme, who is a staff of the CBN, Adamu Abubakar and Imam Abubakar on the list sent to the Interpol.

The request was made by the Office of the Special Investigator appointed by President Bola Tinubu to investigate the CBN, related entities and other key government business entitles.

NAN reports that the government had been granted an application of warrant filed before a Federal High Court in Abuja for the arrest of the three persons.

The three persons are to be arrested and arraigned before the court on or before May 7, 2024.

The Interpol is expected to apprehend and repatriate the suspects, who are at large, from any of the Interpol member states to which they may have flown.

NAN reports that Boss Mustapha, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), on Tuesday testified at an Abuja High Court that former President Muhammadu Buhari’s signature was forged to withdraw the said 6.23 million US dollars from the CBN.

Mustapha, who testified in the trial of former CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, said he knew nothing about the withdrawal of the money for the payment of foreign observers for the 2023 general elections.

He said that it was the responsibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deal with issues of election observers.

An official of the CBN had on Monday told the court that the amount was given out in cash.

He said that it was given to an official from the office of the SGF following approvals by former president Buhari and Emefiele. (NAN)

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