The Department of State Services (DSS) has denied arresting the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
The clarification by the DSS is coming against the backdrop of some media reports that the just-suspended apex bank boss is currently being detained by the secret police.
This was made known by the DSS through a short statement on the agency’s official Twitter account on Saturday, June 10, 2023, where it posted that Emefiele is not in their custody.
The DSS in its post said, “Currently, Emefiele is not with the DSS.”
What you should know
Nairametrics had on Friday evening, June 9, 2023, reported that President Bola Tinubu had suspended the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, with immediate effect, following ongoing investigation of his office and planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy.
The Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey, who issued the statement on behalf of the Federal Government said that Emefiele had been directed to hand over the affairs of his office to the Deputy Governor (Operations Directorate), Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi.
Shonubi is expected to act as the CBN Governor pending the conclusion of the investigation and the reforms.
The statement reads, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has suspended the Central Bank Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, CFR, from office with immediate effect. This is a sequel to the ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy,” the statement said.
“Mr Emefiele has been directed to immediately hand over the affairs of his office to the Deputy Governor (Operations Directorate) [Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi], who will act as the Central Bank Governor pending the conclusion of the investigation and the reforms.”
The DSS had been on the trail of the suspended CBN Governor for some time with reported attempts to get a court order to arrest him in the past, which the judge declined.
Among allegations levied against the embattled CBN governor by the DSS are terrorism financing, mismanagement of Nigeria’s social investment programme and the Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme, among others.
