‘Arrest Buhari, Malami, others too, probe CBN,’ as Nigerians react to Emefiele saga

Nigerians have called for the full probe of activities of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under the tenure of its former Governor, the embattled Mr Godwin Emefiele, who was suspended from office, last Friday, and arrested the following day by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS).

Reacting to the development, some Nigerians called for a total and comprehensive investigation of the regulatory bank, and they insisted that the suspension and arrest of Emefiele should not be the end of the matter.

This is also as other condemned the alleged ‘witch-hunt’ and media trial launched against Emefiele by the government, as they allege that the entire of episode of suspension and arrest is politically-motivated against the backdrop of the former CBN chief’s political stance.

After initially denying the whereabouts of Emefiele, the Department of State Services (DSS), confirmed later Saturday, that its operatives has arrested the former CBN chief and transferred him from Lagos to its Abuja headquarters.

The DSS in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Dr. Peter Afunanya, also confirmed that Emefiele was its custody ‘for some investigative reasons.’

“The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby confirms that Mr Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is now in its custody for some investigative reasons.

“The public, particularly the Media, is enjoined to apply utmost caution in the reportage and narratives concerning this,” Afunanya said.

Mr Emefiele has since been replaced by the CBN’s Deputy Governor, Operations, Mr. Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi who is expected to act in that capacity pending the conclusion of investigation and reforms instituted by President Bola Tinubu.

Oracle Today recalls that ex-CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele was suspended from office by President Tinubu, Friday evening, in a move said to be connected with ‘ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy.’

Emefiele was also directed to ‘immediately’ hand over affairs of his office to the Deputy Governor (Operations Directorate), ‘who will act as the Central Bank Governor pending the conclusion of investigation and the reforms.’

Only recently, Mr Godwin Emefiele was conferred with the Commander of Order of Federal Republic (CFR) national award by immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari.

In the final days of Buhari’s administration, Emefiele has been embroiled in controversies ranging from his political ambitions, as well as his controversial naira design policy which had threatened to mar the 2023 general Elections in the country.

It is this plethora of controversies which many clam is responsible for his current dilemma, which they also posit to be politically-motivated.

It has been claimed that the embattled former CBN chief is under interrogation over charges relating to; alleged funding of activities of unknown gunmen, Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) and its Eastern Security Network (ESN) affiliate, said to be with money raised for his failed 2023 presidential bid which he diverted from government coffers

Other allegations leveled against Emefiele include: Illegal economic crimes of National security dimension; Mismanagement of social investment programmes, including the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), and the CBN’s Anchor Borrowers Scheme; Unwholesome activities through proxies; Foreign Exchange Round tripping; Threat to National Security; Terrorism financing; Conferment of financial benefits to self and others; Criminal conspiracy to divert government resources; and Money Laundering.

However, while many have welcomed the suspension of Emefiele, others demand the prosecution of co-conspirators who enabled the ex-CBN governor in all the alleged activities.

This is others insist that the suspension and arrest of the embattled banker is a political witch-hunt against targeted opponents of the current president, Bola Tinubu.

Ex-Presidential candidate of the African Action Alliance (AAC), Mr Omoyele Sowore, while commending the Federal Government for the suspension of Emefiele, believes ‘his accomplices’ should also be arrested.

Writing via Twitter handle, Sowore listed Emefiele’s accomplices as ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami SAN, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lt. Gen. Lucky Irabor, as well as, former Buhari’s aide, Mr. Tunde Sabiu.

“Former @cenbank Governor Godwin @GodwinIEmefiele has finally landed in Abuja after he was arrested at his Lagos home at 2am in the morning/ He was flown on a PJ from Lagos accompanied by a team of DSS men. 

“Emefiele was tracked after he drove around Lagos purportedly in an attempt to flee Nigeria.  It is time to indict, arrest and try his accomplices as well. They include his principal, @MBuhari, the  ex-Attorney General, Abubakar @Malami SAN. Buhari’s cousin and ex- Private Secretary, Tunde Sabiu, Chief of Defense Staff, General Irabor whose wife was given the task of printing naira notes under the pretext of being falsely appointed by the Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company. Gen Irabor severally interfered with investigations and obstructed justice in attempt to shield @GodwinIEmefiele from investigations, arrest and prosecution.

Also reacting, Mr Reno Omokri, the former media aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, described some of the accusations leveled against Emefiele as ‘far-fetched,’ and ‘anti-democratic.’

Omokri, reacting via Twitter handle (@renoomokri), Saturday, condemned humiliation of handcuffing the ex-CBN chief, while warning against media trial of the banker.

“I am not saying Emefiele is above arrest. However, accusing him of funding Unknown Gunmen is far-fetched. This is about the Naira redesign policy, and Emefiele is being punished because it is felt that the policy was against President Bola Tinubu. That is why he was handcuffed (I saw the video). The plan to treat Emefiele like Sambo Dasuki and keep him in detention while negative things are leaked to the media against him is anti-democratic.

“He should be treated with respect and allowed to speak to his lawyers and his family. He must not be made a scapegoat for Buhari’s sin because he is an Igbo-speaking minority from the South-South. Nigerians should not allow the pains they felt during the Naira redesign policy to poison their minds against Emefiele.

“Emefiele is handcuffed while Buhari relaxes in Daura, and El-Rufai is Villa bound. Where is the justice?”

In the same vein, former senator representing Kaduna Central at the National Assembly, Shehu Sani, while commending the suspension of Emefiele, posited that ‘housecleaning’ embarked upon by Presidnt Tinubu should also include probing the CBN and telling ‘the country how the Bank was run under Buhari’s Emefiele.’

Sani writing via Twitter handle (@ShehuSani), Saturday, said: “The eviction of Emefiele is commendable. The appointment of Shonubi as acting Governor is commendable. But the Housecleaning of the CBN can only be done by engaging a team of auditors from OUTSIDE of the CBN.

“Only they can professionally and thoroughly probe the apex Bank and tell the country how the Bank was run under Buhari’s Emefiele.

“The CBN was operated as an ATM of the Cabal, a Canteen and Cash Cow of the parasitic elites of the past administration.”