Ex-SGF Boss Mustapha denies looting $6.3m from CBN vault

Boss Mustapha, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), has refuted a report accusing him of participating in the unlawful withdrawal of $6.3 million from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) during the tenure of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.

The report, allegedly uncovered by a special investigator appointed by President Bola Tinubu, claimed that the purported theft occurred on February 8, 2023, just weeks before the presidential election. It suggested that Mustapha and the embattled former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele directed the removal of the cash, ostensibly to fund foreign election observer missions, with CCTV footage purportedly capturing the money’s movement out of the CBN.

However, Mustapha, in a statement he personally issued on Saturday, vehemently denied the accusations, dismissing them as “outrageous and unsubstantiated.” He characterized the allegation as a “malicious fabrication” and an orchestrated effort to tarnish his character and reputation.

The former SGF asserted his lack of awareness regarding the reported “Presidential Directive” cited as justification for the withdrawal. He clarified that he was never involved in discussions or transactions related to payments for foreign election observers.

Questioning the timing of the allegation’s release during the “sensitive pre-Christmas period,” Mustapha suggested that it was a deliberate attempt to exploit public sentiment and sow doubt. He called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the matter, urging authorities to scrutinize the source of the alleged fabricated documents and expose those orchestrating the “smear” campaign.

Mustapha appealed to the public and the media to exercise critical thinking and resist succumbing to misinformation.