From Victor Osula, Abuja
Few hours after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu suspended the Central Bank Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, from office with immediate effect, the Directorate of State Services, DSS arrested him.
The arrest, sources say, was done at his residence in Ikoyi, Lagos, from where he was flown to Abuja in a chopper.
The president’s suspension was based on an ongoing investigation of Emefiele’s office and the planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy according to a statement by the Director of Information in the office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey on Friday.
He further said, “Mr Emefiele has been directed to immediately hand over the affairs of his office to the Deputy Governor (Operations Directorate), who will act as the Central Bank Governor pending the conclusion of investigation anthe reforms.”
On his arrest by the DSS, recall that, the spy agency had wanted to arrest the CBN chief in December 2022 based on allegations that he had been funding unknown gunmen, membership of the Eastern Security Network, ESN and IPOB with money he raised from his failed presidential bid last year and funds diverted from government coffers
Other allegations bordered on the alleged mismanagement of Nigeria’s Social Investment Programme, (NISRAL and the Anchor Borrowers Scheme, illegal economic crimes of national security dimension; Money laundering; unwholesome activities through round tripping, and conferment of financial benefits to self.
Other allegation are threat to National Security, Criminal conspiracy to divert government resource and terrorism financing.
Indeed, Section 11 (2) ( c & f) of the CBN Act stipulates the method by which the a governor of the CBN should be removed from office, thus; “the Governor, the Deputy Governor or Director shall cease to hold office in the Bank if he- [c] he is guilty of a serious misconduct in relation to his duties under this Act; or [f] is removed by the President; PROVIDED that the removal of the Governor shall be supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate praying that he be so removed.”
