My sincere apologies for deleting the post on the alleged arrest of Nigeria’s suspended governor of the Central Bank. I never really like to break news; I prefer to analyze broken ones. So, when I posted, many commented that it was not true. To avoid spreading non-factual news, I deleted it. But it has turned out that the he was indeed arrested:
“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,” Peter Afunanya, the spokesperson for the agency, said in a press statement he shared with PREMIUM TIMES.
Yet, early this morning, DSS denied he was arrested. But in the last few hours, they just confirmed they arrested him. Many things in Nigeria are never straightforward.
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So, I am returning my earlier comment: “I am not sure it is the best playbook: arresting the governor of an apex book. If the Nigerian stock exchange operates on data, the market could drop at scale on next trading day. But of course, who cares? That said, we need to modulate, and make sure that we do not criminalize being a bad “student”. I am never a fan of Emefiele but I also will not like him to be staged. He deserves all the due processes as written in the rule books.”
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has been taken into custody by Nigeria’s secret police, the State Security Service (SSS), hours after PresidentBola Tinubu suspended him from office.
“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,” Peter Afunanya, the spokesperson for the agency, said in a press statement he shared with PREMIUM TIMES.
Mr Afunanya did not provide details of when and how Mr Emefiele was arrested and where he is being kept. However, PREMIUM TIMES learnt the banker was picked up from his home in Lagos and then flown to Abuja guarded by a detachment of operatives. He was then driven to the SSS’ headquarters in the Asokoro District of the nation’s capital when sources said he was being quizzed.
There were speculations Friday night that the SSS arrested Mr Emefiele shortly after he was suspended. But the law enforcement agency tweeted Saturday morning, saying the top banker was not in its custody.
It is unclear why the SSS is holding the embattled official. But the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation said Friday that his office, the CBN, was under investigation.
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