Emefiele: Groups protesting against arrest, enemies of Nigeria says CSOs

Forum 10 months ago

Emefiele: Groups protesting against arrest, enemies of Nigeria says CSOs

A civil society coalition organisation has described individuals or groups protesting the arrest of the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emiefele, as enemies of Nigeria, saying such actions are capable of derailing the opportunity to expose the grand corruption perpetuated by Emiefele while heading a critical arm of Nigeria’s economy.

The coalition is made up of the Gatekeepers Foundation, the Christian Muslim Youth Association of Nigeria, the National Anti-Corruption Network, and the National Campaign Against Vandals.

In a statement released on Tuesday and jointly signed by Chief Tunji Ajiboye, Director of Gatekeepers Foundation, and Peter Davids, Director of Publicity, Christian Muslim Youth Association of Nigeria, they also accused one Eric Udoh, a personal assistant at CBN, of being the funnel used by Emefiele to amass the humongous amount of wealth at the detriment of Nigerians.

“The security agencies should beam their searchlight on one Eric Udoh, the personal assistant to Emefiele, who it believes was the conduit pipe used by Emiefele to amass humongous amount of wealth at the detriment of Nigerians”, the statement reads.

Listing the crimes of the embattled apex bank head, which include violation of the extant laws establishing the CBN by involving in partisan politics, encouraging forex arbitrage and round-tripping, and the botched bid to defend the value of the naira, the coalition said security agencies should be given all the support they need in their investigation of Emefiele’s time in office.

“Emiefele was desperate to become the President of Nigeria and in the process jettisoned decorum and decency and ventured into a terrain reserved for politicians, adding that his involvement in partisan politics was in violation of extant laws establishing the CBN, thereby neglecting his critical role of a financial regulator, resulting in the massive fall in the value of the naira, which was exchanging for ₦190 to one United States dollar before Emiefele’s assumption of office in 2014, but which depreciated to as much as ₦750 at the parallel market in 2023″, it added.

The coalition also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to extend the investigation to deputy governors of the apex court, saying it will be erroneous to believe Emefiele carried out the alleged act alone.

In choosing a replacement for Emiefele, the coalition expressed joy that an experienced financial expert was picked from the pool of Deputy Governors.

They, however, implored the would-be substantive governor to give his all in rejigging the economy”.

Recall that Emefiele was arrested by the Department of State Services on June 10, a day after he was suspended by President Tinubu, citing reforms in the financial sector as well as an investigation into his office.

Getting wind of a planned protest by individuals against the DSS and the Federal Government over the suspension and investigation of Emefiele, the state service ordered those behind these activities to cease forthwith.