CBN’s Emefiele Returns To Nigeria, Resumes Work

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has returned to the country after the expiration of his leave.

Naija News gathered that the governor of the apex bank came into the country early Monday morning after his leave expired on Sunday, January 15, and is now back at his office in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

According to TheCable, Emefiele spent the first part of his leave in the US and was in the UK until Sunday evening from where he flew back to Nigeria and arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Monday morning.

It was gathered that Emefiele presided over a number of meetings immediately he reported to office on Monday morning.

In a statement on Monday evening by its spokesman, Osita Nwanisobi, the apex bank said Emefiele has resumed duty after his annual vacation abroad.

He said the CBN boss returned to the country ahead of the bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting slated for next week..

Recall that the 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, the Chief Judge, Justice JT Tsoho, said the secret police did not provide any concrete evidence to substantiate its claims.

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

According to political analysts, 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 swiftly warned against anyone being used to “undermine” its investigations, although it did not specifically name Emefiele. 

Reacting, DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, said the service would not be distracted by those seeking to use “propaganda” to undermine its lawful investigations.