The Department of State Services has reportedly arrested the sacked former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele for terrorism related crimes against Nigeria.
The Network investigation reported that the nation’s secret police had put border and airport operatives on the alert to arrest the embattled CBN Governor anywhere they find him.
He was eventually picked up when the President fired him.
It was gathered that eagle eyed operatives were deployed to ensure that Emefiele who is believed to be desperate does not escape from Nigeria.
President Bola Tinubu, on Friday suspended the CBN Governor from office indefinitely with immediate effect.
The Director, Information to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey made the announcement in a statement on Friday night.
He said that the action was sequel to the ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy.
“President Bola Tinubu has suspended the Central Bank Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, CFR, from office with immediate effect.
“This is sequel to the ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy.
“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 the investigation and the reforms,” he said
In December, the DSS intensified moves to arrest Emefiele for suspected terrorism.
The nation’s secret police was said to have issued a directive that Emefiele should be picked up any moment he is sighted by operatives of DSS anywhere within the borders of the country.
The DSS had filed a suit, with reference number FHC/Abj/CS/2255/2022, on December 7, 2022, in which it requested an order to arrest the CBN governor.
An Abuja Federal High Court presided over by Justice J.T Tsoho had declined a request by the Agency to arrest Emefiele.
The secret police according to a court document is moving to arrest Emefiele over allegations bothering on “acts of financing terrorism, fraudulent activities and economic crimes of national security dimension.”
Justice Tsoho declined to grant the application for the Emefiele’s arrest on December 9, 2022.
The judge held that the DSS should have taken the court into confidence on Emefiele’s alleged activities as its position alone on the matter is not enough to deprive him of his liberty.
The court further held that the respondent was simply identified as Godwin Emefiele without his position.
It noted further that the withholding of the position of the respondent leaves the court with the speculation whether Emefiele is the Governor of Central Bank, who occupies a sensitive position as a key driver of the nation’s economy.
Similarly, another High Court of the Federal Capital Territory forbade the DSS from arresting and detaining the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele on the grave allegations bordering on terrorism financing and economic crimes.
Justice M.A. Hassan, the presiding judge, who issued the restraining order on Thursday also barred the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), from arresting him.
A source said that the DSS might come out with evidence which Will baffle those defending Emefiele.
Muhammed Kazaure Gudaji, the member representing the Kazaure, Roni, Gwiwa, Yankwashi Constituency of Jigawa State in the House Representatives had hinted in a viral video that the DSS is investigating Emefiele for giving loans to people who use the funds to buy guns to terrorize Nigerians.
However, the former President, Muhammadu Buhari, may have restrained the DSS which is believed to have a rock solid evidence against Emefiele from arresting and interrogating him at the twilight of his administration.
Credit: THE NETWORK.
