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.
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.
The Governor of the central bank of Nigeria has just been suspended and immediately arrested and detained by the agents of the state security services (SSS). According to rumors making around the corner, the governor was arrested on ten allegations which include the following;
Funding of unknown gunmen, ESN and IPOB,
Mismanagement of Nigeria’s Social Investment program (NIRSAL) and the anchor Borrowers scheme,
Illegal economic crimes of National security dimension,
Money Laundering,
Unwholesome activities through proxy,
Round Tripping,
Conferment of financial benefits to self and others,
Threat to national security,
criminal conspiracy to divert government resources and
Terrorism funding.
No doubt that Mr Emefiele’s hate and ordeal started with the naira notes redesign policy which coincidentally happened in the heat of political campaigns and this made some agents of the APC allege that it was his ploy to scuttle the campaign and backstage the electoral success of President Tinubu. It took court action to stop him from going on with that policy.
For the sake of legal argument, the issue that this suspension of the governor has posed again as it posed in 2014 when it first happened is whether the President can outrightly and unilaterally sack or suspend the governor of the central bank of Nigeria. According to S. 11(2)(f) of the CBN Act, 2007, the president can only sack the governor of the CBN if the sack was approved by a 2/3 majority of the Senate. This procedure was enshrined as a way of making the governor somehow independent of the Presidency so that he can execute his jobs without the fear of being outrightly or unilaterally sacked by the president anytime he wishes or wills.
Although there is an existing federal High Court judgment which tends to be the current authority on this matter; “whether the president has the power to sack or suspend the governor of the central bank unilaterally without recourse or approval from the senate”; Sanusi Lamido Sanusi v. President of federal republic of Nigeria & Ors.
Recall that this same thing playing out today played out in 2014 when the then governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi had a fallout with the then president Goodluck Jonathan, the president suspended him and also arrested and seized his International passport. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi decided to go to court to enforce his rights and also hinging on the provisions of S 11(2(f) of the CBN act stating that the president has no such power to unilaterally remove or suspend him. The court held that although the president cannot remove the CBN Governor unilaterally as provided in S 11 of the CBN act, the president can exercise disciplinary control over the governor which includes suspension.
This matter was never appealed by the then governor hence this is the current rule on the matter; ie, although the president cannot unilaterally remove or sack the CBN governor as provided in s 11 of the CBN act, the president can lawfully exercise some disciplinary action over the governor by suspending him.
This is an exploratory study that seeks to investigate the Rwanda Tourism strategy with a view to inductively highlight trends, developments, roadblocks, and ways forward for tourism and hospitality. The study is based on a qualitative content analysis of documents including peer reviewed journal articles, policy documents and media sources – a view to theorising the pros and cons of strategic tourism for Rwanda and the implications for the sub-region.
Rwanda is making major strides in broadening and deepening its tourism aspirations from a multidimensional lens including sports, hospitality, and gorillas. The study contributes to the scant research in this space considering Rwanda’s aspirations to be a MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) destination in Africa.
Rwanda ranked second safest country for solo female travellers
Rwanda has been ranked as the second safest country for solo female travellers, thanks to its warm friendly hospitality and commitment to women’s inclusion and safety. The ranking was revealed by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on April 3, after consulting with Georgetown University’s Women’s Peace and Security Index, the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap report, and the Institute for Economics and Peace Global Peace Index.
The BBC also talked to women who have travelled alone to top-ranking countries to understand what made them feel safe, hear their own travel tips, and find out the best things to see and do as a solo adventurer. With more than 60 per cent of its parliament made up of women representatives, Rwanda ranks number one in the world for gender equality in parliament, according to the Women’s Peace and Security Index. It also ranks highly in the index’s perception of community safety and is ranked sixth in the world in the Global Gender Gap index, which measures how equitable a country is in terms of economics, education, healthcare, and political participation.
Rwanda’s economy, tourism shine in Africa wealth report 2023
Rwanda has been recognized for its remarkable achievements in a new report, “Africa Wealth Report 2023,” published on March 29.
Rwanda also ranked seventh in the report’s list of the next 10 wealthiest African countries, demonstrating its potential for economic growth and development. The country’s focus on sustainable development enabled it to make strides in various sectors, such as technology, finance, and tourism.
“Included in the list of top vacation destinations for high-net-worth families. This recognition is significant, as it highlights Rwanda‘s potential as a tourist destination, providing a unique experience for high-end visitors seeking to explore Africa’s natural beauty.”
Rwanda Tourism Framework
Implications
In terms of its implications, the study seeks to advance, if not kick-start the conversation on tourism in Africa in general and Rwanda in particular with implications for the Tourism Board, the Visit Rwanda organisation and Higher education. It also impacts the march towards achieving the UN sustainable development goals (decent work, industry, innovation and infrastructure, quality education) – SDGs 8, 9, and 4 respectively, by connecting the dots for partnerships enshrined in SDG17.
All of the above align with the theme of a forthcoming African Research Group conference in Kigali themed, “Contemporary developments in the management of organizations in Africa: tapping into indigenous knowledge and developing viable partnerships.”
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM 2022), 26th Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Nations.
20-26 June 2022, Kigali, Rwanda.
Why it matters
Overall, there an anticipation of kick-starting the conversation on tourism in Africa in general, and Rwanda in particular, with implications for the Tourism Board, the Visit Rwanda – a department of the Rwanda Development Board. Although the exploratory nature of this article hampers any attempts at generalisation, it is well worth pointing out that such generalisation has never been the ultimate goal of qualitative studies of this kind. Rather it seeks to inductively highlight potential areas for theory development, which may be subjected to deductive theory testing in future studies.
_________________________________________________________________ “Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter” – Achebe (R.I.P.) Read my papers for free: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=962279
Earlier this week, there was news that the wife of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has officially resumed her office at the Aso Rock villa as the First Lady of the federal republic of Nigeria.
This is a clear case of introducing what was never there and was never part of the constitution into our political system as there is no such position or office as the office of First Lady of the federal republic of Nigeria provided for by the constitution or other legislative enactments.
Every political office in our political system is provided for by the constitution and other enacted legislations so as to avoid confusion and usurpation of power/functions by political jobbers and desperadoes.
It is the president of the federal republic of Nigeria that was sworn in by the Chief Justice of the federation and never the wife or with the wife. First Lady is a ceremonial title and ceremonial position with no real office or clear-cut duties except being the wife of the president, therefore, allocating an office at the presidential wing for the First Lady is an aberration. She is merely the wife of the president and nothing more.
If the wives of all elected or appointed officeholders decide to wield executive offices or executive political power what will now come of our political space? Your guess is as good as mine.
Nigerian politicians should be careful of the precedents they set because it will definitely come back to hunt them. Allocating an official and executive power to the wife of the president or to the wives of the governors of the state is one of the precedents that if allowed to flourish will lead to chaos and confusion.
I have searched and still searching the constitution and other laws and there is nowhere it is written that “there shall be the office of the First Lady of the federal republic of Nigeria who shall be the wife of the presidents”. No provision as such.
This serves as a reminder for all elected and appointed government officials to tread with caution and stop making a mockery of our constitutions and laws; if this is allowed to continue, we might wake up to see the office of the first son or office of the first daughter of the federation all wielding official and executive powers.
Contrary to earlier report that the suspended Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has been detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) on Friday shortly after the order of his suspension by the president through the Office of the Secretary of Government of the Federation (SGF), the DSS on Saturday has debunked the news that the embattled boss of the apex bank is currently in its custody.
The DSS spokesperson, Dr Peter Afunanya, was reported to have made the disclaimer, saying Emefiele is currently not with the DSS.
In an earlier statement from the office of the SGF, the suspension of Emefiele was incumbent due to the ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy.
Therefore, Mr Emefiele was 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 commencement and completion of the investigation.
