As part of the ongoing investigation into the looting of $6,230,000 from the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Special Investigator, Jim Obazee, has requested the International Criminal Police Organisation to place three suspects on a Red Notice.
The suspects – Adamu Abubakar, Imam Abubakar, and Odoh Eric Ocheme – are now under a watch-list for arrest anywhere in the world.
The suspects face charges related to money laundering, fraud, forgery, and conspiracy, including forging the signature of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari to steal funds from the CBN.
The Federal Government charged them on January 18, and a motion ex-parte of the same date led to the request for INTERPOL’s involvement.
In a letter dated February 12, 2024, Obazee appealed to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in the National Central Bureau of INTERPOL, stating, “The Special Investigator kindly requests you to place the above-named individuals on INTERPOL RED NOTICE.”
The suspects, including Odoh Eric Ocheme, a CBN staff, are alleged to have conspired and forged documents in the name of the President to embezzle $6,230,000 from the CBN. A charge was filed, and warrants of arrest were issued by the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Abuja Division.
Obazee urged INTERPOL to use its influence to apprehend and repatriate the defendants, emphasizing the gravity of the charges.
He stated, “The Special Investigator, therefore, prays you to use your good office to request that the defendants be placed on INTERPOL RED NOTICE, with a view to apprehending and repatriating them from any of the INTERPOL member states to which they may have flown.”
Justice I.E. Ekwo granted an ex-parte order for the arrest warrants of the three defendants. The Federal Government also filed a six-count extradition charge against them, accusing them of conspiracy to commit forgery and other related offences.
