By Halimah Olamide
For Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha has denied being part of any withdrawal of a sum of $6.3m from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Part of the report of a special investigator appointed to probe the apex bank transactions under the watch of former Governor Godwin Emefiele had alleged the withdrawal of the said fund.
But denying the allegations, Mustapha said the matter must be probed.
The report had claimed that the withdrawal took place on February 8, 2023 — weeks before the presidential election.
It was learnt that the report further alleged that Mustapha and Emefiele authorised the removal of the cash from the bank’s vault under the excuse to use it to fund foreign election observer missions.
The investigator’s report, as quoted by the publication, claimed CCTV footage captured how the money was moved out of the apex bank.
But Mustapha, in a statement made available to journalists on Saturday, refuted the accusations, calling them “outrageous and unsubstantiated.”
He described the article as a “malicious fabrication” and an “orchestrated” attempt to assassinate my character and besmirch my reputation.”
The former SGF stressed that he lacked knowledge of the purported “Presidential Directive” cited in the report as justification for the withdrawal.
He also stated that he was never involved in discussions or transactions related to any payments for foreign election observers.
Furthermore, Mr Mustapha questioned the timing of the allegations, pointing to the sensitive pre-Christmas period as a deliberate attempt to exploit public sentiment and sow seeds of doubt.