The special investigator appointed by President Bola Tinubu has requested the assistance of the international criminal police organization, Interpol, to place three suspects on its watchlist in connection with an alleged fraud amounting to $6,230,000.
The suspects, namely Adamu Abubakar, Imam Abubakar, and Odoh Eric Ocheme, are facing extradition charges for allegedly forging the signature of former President Muhammadu Buhari and documents purportedly written by Boss Mustapha, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), in order to fraudulently obtain funds from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The funds, purportedly intended for foreign election observers, were obtained through deception.
A section of the charge sheet against the suspects reads:
“That Adamu Abubakar, Imam Abubakar, Odoh Eric Ocheme, Bashirudeen Maishanu, and others, conspired and forged several documents with the intent to induce the Central Bank of Nigeria, Abuja Branch, to pay them the sum of $6,230,000.00. This action constitutes an offence punishable under Section 1(2)[c] of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.”
In a letter dated February 12, 2024, the special investigator urged Interpol to issue a red notice for the three suspects, citing their involvement in the fraudulent scheme. The letter, signed by Eloho Okpoziakpo, the head of operations in the office of the special investigator, highlighted the role of Odoh Eric Ocheme, a CBN staff, and his accomplices in orchestrating the fraud.
The request for Interpol’s intervention follows a warrant of arrest issued against the suspects by Inyang Ekwo, a judge at the Federal High Court in Abuja, on January 18, 2024. The warrant was issued based on a motion filed by Celestine Odo, the counsel representing the federal government in the case.
The efforts to apprehend the suspects and bring them to justice underscore the commitment of law enforcement agencies to combat financial crimes and ensure accountability in Nigeria.
