A forensic analyst in the trial of the embattled former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has confirmed that the documents the former CBN boss used to request the payment of $6.2million for foreign election observers were forged.

The forensic analyst, Bamaiyi Meriga, made the confirmation on Thursday before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja as Emefiele’s trial continued.

Emefiele is standing trial before Justice Muazu on 20 counts of amended charges bordering on corrupt advantages, conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery and obtaining $6,230,000 by false pretences.

The former apex bank governor was accused of impersonating the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, to illegally obtain the funds.

In February, Mustapha testified before the court and said he knew nothing about the transaction up till the time he left office at the end of May 2023, adding that having served for five years and seven months, the document in contention didn’t emanate from the office of the then President Buhari.

Also at the resumed trial of Emefiele on February 12, Onyeka Ogbu, a prosecution witness told the court that he was aware of a $ 6.2 million payment request for international election observers.

Ogbu, a Deputy Director in charge of Branch Operations in the apex bank, told the court that the request for the $6.2 million was made on January 8, 2023.

According to him, he reviewed the documents and subsequently approved disbursement, which was then executed.

Channels TV reported on Thursday that Meriga, after being called by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the witness stand, told the court that following forensic analysis of the disputed documents, he discovered that there was clear evidence of forgery of signature.

According to him, the seal of execution was different from the original.

Meriga further confirmed that the signatures were not those of former President Muhammadu Buhari and Mustapha.

The two documents that the Presidential Directive on Foreign Observer Election and Presidential Directive on Foreign Observer Election tendered in evidence were admitted in evidence by Justice Muazu.

It was reported that under cross-examination by Matthew Burkaa, counsel for the former CBN governor, the forensic analyst said he was not a staff member of the EFCC and was not being paid by the anti-graft commission.

Burkaa expressed displeasure over the conduct of the witness, saying that the witness misled the court by evading questions, but the Prosecution Counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, objected to the line toed by Burkaa.

Justice Muazu adjourned the case till March 11 for continuation.