Embattled Nigeria’s Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, will be allowed safe entry into the country this week but it could be to make him tender his resignation, BusinessDay reported.
Emefiele, who has been accused of funding terrorism by the State Security Service will be confronted with evidence of the allegations against him, according to the report.
The apex bank chief has been out of the country since December. He was part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s entourage to the US-Africa Leaders’ Summit in Washington in December last year but did not return with the president. Buhari had returned to Abuja a day after the summit.
Recall that Abuja Federal High Court in December denied an application by the Department of State Services (DSS) which sought permission to arrest Emefiele and keep him for a prolonged period.
“I believe there is a deal that will allow the governor to return this week without arrest, but he will be presented with evidence of the allegations against him, and thereafter it is expected he will resign,” a senior government official told BusinessDay.
The report went on to say that top government officials are divided on Emefiele’s case, with some wanting him to be held on arrival and prosecuted, but a soft landing may now be presented to the once-powerful governor of the apex bank.
If Emefiele resigns, a vacuum that needs to filled will be created. With four months left to the end of President Buhari’s administration, will he dappoint a substantive CBN governor or an acting governor.
“A responsible government will go ahead to clean up the mess and appoint an acting governor, given that the government has only four months in power,” a source told BusinessDay.
Emefiele, the first person to serve two terms as the head of Nigeria’s apex bank in nearly 20 years has been governor since 2014.
He was first appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan in June 2014, after Sarah Alade served out the term of the Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.
The DSS in its December application marked FHC/Abj/CS/2255/2022, which sought permission from the Federal High Court in Abuja to arrest and detain Emefiele, said its preliminary investigation revealed various acts of terrorism financing and fraudulent activities perpetrated by Emefiele.
The secret police also accused Emefiele of being involved in economic crimes of national security dimension.
In a recent press release by its spokesman, Peter Afunanya, the DSS maintained that it remained focused and unbiased and would not succumb to propaganda, intimidation, or the desperation of hirelings to undermine it.
Afunanya said: “As such, the Service will continue to disseminate actionable intelligence to the relevant authorities devoid of any sentiment. While professionally discharging its mandate the DSS pledges to remain focused and unbiased.
“It will also not give room to the use of falsehood and deceit to misdirect public understanding and perceptions of issues of national importance.”
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
