Alleged $6.2m Fraud: Court Shifts FG’s Charges Against CBN Staff Till Nov 3

The Central Bank of Nigeria staff, Odoh Ocheme, and two others who allegedly obtained $6.2 million from the CBN through allegedly obtained letters from the Presidency and the Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) have been scheduled for November 3, 2025, according to Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Justice Ekwo shifted the arraignment, following the Federal Government’s inability to produce the three accused persons before him.

Adamu Abubakar, Imam Abubakar, and Odoh Ochene, who are accused of obtaining the funds in cash from the apex bank in order to settle foreign election observers, are the three accused.

The Federal Government’s attorney, Celestine Odoh, informed the judge that the three accused of leaving the country have not been detained despite the scheduled date for the arraignment for Thursday.

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He continued, noting that the International Police (INTERPOL) had been actively fighting to apprehend the three accused people, despite their best efforts.

The attorney then requested that the judge grant a relatively long time to allow the government to continue its efforts to trial the defendants.

Justice Ekwo, who recalled that an arrest warrant had been issued against the accused persons a year prior, granted the lawyer’s request, and put the case on hold until November 3.

In connection with the alleged unauthorized withdrawal of $6.2 million from the apex bank last year through a forged document, the Federal Government had requested INTERPOL’s assistance.

Jim Obazee, the then Special Agent of the CBN, requested the request after receiving an order from Abuja’s Federal High Court.

The office, through a letter by its head of operations, Eloho Okpoziakpo, named the defendants as Adamu Abubakar, Imam Abubakar, and Odoh Ochene.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had previously filed charges against them in Abuja for stealing the money at the request of the president to pay international election observers.

The anti-graft organization claimed that the accused individuals conspired to extort $6.2 million from the CBN on February 8, 2023, claiming that Boss Mustapha, the then secretary to the Federation’s government, had requested the money in the form of a letter dated January 26, 2023 with Ref No. SGF. 43/L. 01/”.

The then Special Investigator of the CBN requested that the international police agency “watchlist” them and place them on a “red notice” to have them detained and taken back after their escape from Nigeria.

Source: Channels TV