CBN Governor, Emefiele’s Whereabouts Causes Confusion

The whereabout of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has caused confusion among Nigerians.

Recall that Emefiele was last seen publicly in the country when he met with President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Katsina State, in early December.

After the meeting with the President, the CBN governor failed to appear in public functions, and meetings and also failed to appear before the House of Representatives which summoned him over the cash withdrawal limit and redesigning of the naira.

Emefiele had failed to appear before the lawmakers twice, which angered members of the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

In a letter, the Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, CBN, Edward Adamu, told the lawmakers that Emefiele was said to be ill and would not appear before them in person.

But on Thursday, there were contradictory reports on his whereabout, with a report in Premium Times claiming that the CBN governor secretly entered the country and would be leaving soon apparently to evade arrest by the Department of State Service (DSS).

Another report in The Gazette claimed that Emefielemet with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, and the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN).

While TheCable said the CBN governor would return next week after the expiration of his leave.

Citing presidency sources, the online platform said Emefiele went on leave before Christmas with the knowledge of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He was said to have spent the first part of his leave in the United States of America (USA) and he is currently in the United Kingdom (UK).

According to TheCable, Emefiele’s leave ends on January 17 and he will be at his desk thereafter, while Premium Times said Emefiele’s leave ended on January 11.

However, while Emefiele was abroad, it emerged that the Department of State Services (DSS) had approached a Federal High Court in Abuja seeking a warrant to arrest him over allegations that he was involved in terrorism financing and economic crimes.

In declining the motion ex parte, the Chief Judge, Justice JT Tsoho, said the secret police did not provide any concrete evidence to substantiate its claims.

There were suggestions that the bid to arrest Emefiele might be political given the impact the redesign of the naira and limit on cash withdrawals might have on vote-buying in the 2023 elections.

A group of civil society organisations raised the alarm that there was a plot to frame Emefiele for terrorism and remove him from office.

However, the DSS, in a statement by its spokesman,  Peter Afunanya, swiftly asserted that the service would not be distracted by those seeking to use “propaganda” to undermine its lawful investigations.

Later, Justice M.A. Hassan of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Maitama later issued an order restraining the DSS from arresting the CBN governor.