2023-06-10 20:21:31
The Department of State Services (DSS) confirmed on Saturday that it has arrested Godwin Emefiele, the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
In a statement obtained by SaharaReporters, the DSS said Emefiele was arrested for investigative reasons.
“EMEFIELE, NOW IN DSS CUSTODY – 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 reasons of investigation.
“The public, especially the media, is urged to exercise the utmost caution in reporting and storytelling on this matter,” said Peter Afunanya, Public Relations Officer, Department of State Services, National Headquarters, Abuja.
SaharaReporters reported that senior sources confirmed that the DSS transported Emefiele from Lagos to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, after his arrest on Friday evening.
SaharaReporters further learned that the embattled CBN Governor was fleeing Nigeria through the land border in Lagos when he was arrested by the DSS.
“Emefiele was flown from Lagos to Abuja after the DSS arrested him. He was fleeing across the land border when he was arrested. He was arrested last night in Lagos,” an authoritative source revealed.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that Emefiele’s arrest came the same day President Bola Ahmed Tinubu suspended him from office with immediate effect.
SaharaReporters previously reported that Emefiele had been suspended “following the ongoing investigation into his office and planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy,” according to a statement from Willie Bassey, the Chief Information Officer for the Secretary of State. Federation government, George Akume.
“Mr. Emefiele has been instructed to immediately hand over the affairs of his office to the Deputy Governor (Directorate of Operations), who will act as Governor of the Central Bank pending the conclusion of the investigation and the reforms,” the statement further read.
SaharaReporters reported in February how the DSS tried to arrest Emefiele, but Chief of Defense Staff General Lucky Irabor protected him by providing soldiers to guard his residence and office.
The DSS said it had stepped up its investigations to arrest and prosecute Emefiele, on allegations of terrorist financing and fraud.
SaharaReporters also reported in January how Irabor interfered with the DSS investigation by providing cover for Emefiele, who had returned to the country at the time from the UK and had evaded arrest.
The CBN governor had headed to his office with heavy security, especially military protection, after returning home.
A senior DSS official had recounted how soldiers provided by CDS overruled DSS officials who went to arrest Emefiele at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
“If we hadn’t resigned our officers, there could have been a firefight between our men and the soldiers who cordoned off the area when the plane landed and escorted the CBN Governor to his residence,” he said.
SaharaReporters had also reported in February that new court documents obtained from the DSS charged Emefiele with funding “unknown gunmen” terrorizing the southeastern region of the country.
The DSS investigation found that the apex bank governor funded the groups with resources he raised for his failed presidential bid in 2022 and embezzled public funds.
Source : Sahara Reporters
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