The Department of State Services (DSS) has confirmed the arrest of Godwin Emefiele, the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
KanyiDaily recalls that the DSS had been trying to arrest Godwin Emefiele since last year during the administration of the immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari.
The DSS had filed a suit on December 7, 2022, seeking to arrest the former CBN governor over allegations bothering on “acts of financing terrorism, fraudulent activities and economic crimes of national security dimension.”
But the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court ruled that the DSS did not provide substantial evidence to support their claims of Emefiele’s involvement in terrorism financing and economic crimes.
Following the end of Buhari’s administration, President Bola Tinubu announced Emefiele’s suspension on Friday, June 9, citing the need for investigation and reforms in the financial sector.
Emefiele was instructed to immediately hand over his responsibilities to the Deputy Governor (Operations Directorate), Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi, during the course of the investigation and reforms.
After he was removed as CBN governor on Friday night, Emefiele was arrested in Lagos and subsequently transported to the Federal Capital Territory for questioning.
The DSS initially denied his arrest, but later confirmed in a statement on Saturday by its spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, that Emefiele is now in its custody for “investigative reasons”.
A video circulating on social media on Saturday showed Godwin Emefiele getting on a plane following his arrest.
Watch the video below:
https://twitter.com/MobilePunch/status/1667540096361328640?s=20
KanyiDaily recalls that the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike had commended President Bola Tinubu for suspending Godwin Emefiele as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).