EXCLUSIVE: Emefiele Pinpoints Top Traditional Rulers, Army Generals, Judges As Collaborators Amidst Corruption Scandal

By Simeon OSAJIE

The suspended governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele  who is currently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) has identified some traditional rulers, Nigerian Army generals and judges as his accomplices.

Emefiele, who is said to be working with DSS investigators reportedly narrated how he gave money to monarchs, army generals and judges at some point or the other during his time in office.

The ex-CBN governor has been in detention along with Abdulrasheed Bawa, the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after both of them were suspended from their respective offices by President Bola Tinubu’s administration over corruption allegations and abuse of office.

Recall on June 15 reported how Emefiele named Bawa as an accomplice in the Naira redesign scam that rocked the country some months ago. Emefiele and Bawa – both undergoing interrogation – were being quizzed on sundry issues including the Naira redesign scam.

Giving newsmen update on Wednesday, DSS sources claimed that Emefiele was revealing a lot and had named some top accomplices in his mismanagement of the country’s apex bank.

“As per Emefiele, he is cooperating with investigators and revealing a lot. Emefiele corrupted and bribed almost every major traditional ruler, army generals, some judges and clerics,” one of the sources revealed.

“Almost all the CBN directors are also being quizzed and they too are cooperating,” the source added.

Recall Emefiele was suspended “sequel to the ongoing investigation into his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy,” according to a release by Willie Bassey, the Director of Information for the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.

On November 23, 2022, former President Muhammadu Buhari alongside Emefiele unveiled new naira notes in denominations of N200, N500 and N1,000. Emefiele insisted that the old notes would cease to be legal tender from January 31, 2023.

Addressing journalists after the event, Emefiele insisted that the move was not targeted at anyone as there were speculations that the move was pushed by the cabal in the Presidency and targeted at preventing Bola Tinubu, then-presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress from winning the February 25, 2023 election.

The policy caused Nigerians untold hardship due to the scarcity of naira notes with the CBN unable to meet the demand for new notes. The policy led to a cash crisis and long queues at banks and ATMs.

“Emefiele who is currently cooling his feet in the cell of the DSS is the reason why the EFCC chairman has been detained overnight. Emefiele who is cooperating with the DSS claimed that Bawa was the one who raised a memo to former President Muhammadu Buhari, asking that the Naira should be redesigned to stem money laundering during the 2023 election,” a top source had revealed.

“Bawa confronted him that he (Emefiele) and the former Attorney-General of the Federation, Malami were the ones that came to him to raise the memo because they suspected Tinubu had warehouses stuffed with naira notes,” the source had added.

In February and March, Nigerians were subjected to extreme difficulty with the Naira redesign and cashless policy due to the scarcity of the new Naira notes.

To make matters worse, Emefiele had refused to heed a Supreme Court ruling which made the old notes legal tender till December 31, before former President Buhari distanced himself from the disobedience to the court order.

Recall in February reported how the DSS attempted to arrest Emefiele, but the then Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, shielded him by providing soldiers to guard his residence and office.

The DSS had said it intensified its investigations to arrest and prosecute Emefiele, on allegations of terrorism financing and fraud.

Recall also in February reported that new court documents obtained from the DSS indicted Emefiele for funding unknown gunmen terrorising the Southeast region of the country.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP), has threatened to institute a legal action against President Bola Tinubu in court over illegal 114 per cent increment of his salary and that of his vice president, Kashim Shettima.

The body described the salary increments of state governors and lawmakers as outrageous.

Tweeting, SERAP wrote: “BREAKING: We’re suing the Tinubu administration over its outrageous and illegal 114 per cent increase in the salaries of the President, vice president, state governors and lawmakers, while over 133 million Nigerians live in extreme poverty.”

Recall the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) had approved a 114 per cent increase in the salaries of elected politicians, including the President, vice president, governors, lawmakers, and judicial and public office holders.

RMAFC is saddled with the responsibility of determining the remuneration appropriate for political officeholders, including the president, vice president, governors, deputy governors, ministers, commissioners, special advisers, legislators and the holders of the offices mentioned in sections 84 and 124 of this constitution.

The commission urged the 36 states’ Houses of Assembly to hasten efforts on amendments to relevant laws to give room for upward review of remuneration packages for political, judicial and public officers.

The RMAFC Chairman, Muhammadu Shehu, represented by a federal commissioner, Rakiya Tanko-Ayuba, made the call at the presentation of reports of the reviewed remuneration package to Kebbi State governor, Nasir Idris, on Tuesday in Birnin Kebbi.

Source: saharareporters.