Nigeria’s Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has resumed duty after his annual vacation abroad.
Emefiele resumed work on Monday, according to a statement issued signed by CBN Director of Corporate Communications, Osita Nwanisobi.
“The apex bank governor resumed with renewed vigour to perform his duty ahead of the first Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of the year scheduled for January 23 to 24, 2023,” the statement read.
“Mr. Emefiele remains committed to performing the task before him in line with his oath of office and the policy direction of President Muhammadu Buhari.”
Emefiele not arrested by DSS
In a similar move, the Department of State Services (DSS) in a statement on Monday signed by its spokesman, Peter Afunanya, said that its operatives did not “invade” the CBN office and did not arrest the apex bank chief.
“The attention of the Department of State Services (DSS) has been drawn to the false news making the round that its operatives invaded the Central Bank of Nigeria and arrested its Governor, today 16/1/23.
“This is fake news and quite misleading,” DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya said in a statement.
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.
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.
BusinessDay reported earlier today that Emefiele will be allowed safe entry into the country this week but it could be to make him tender his resignation. He will be confronted with evidence of the allegations against him, according to the report which cited a senior government official.
Femi Falana on Sunday during his appearance on Channels TV, said the the CBN chief is not in the country and has been quietly declared wanted by State Security Services over alleged terrorism financing.
He said, “I can say without any fear that Mr Godwin Emefiele is not in Nigeria, but he has been quietly declared wanted by State Security Services.”
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.
https://twitter.com/cenbank/status/1615040956390047778
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
