Embattled CBN Governor Emefiele meets with Buhari

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, met President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja, where he is believed to have updated the president on the activities of the bank.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CBN governor, earlier Thursday morning, attended a meeting between the president and the Director General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development, Sid Ould Tah, at the State House, Abuja.

Mr. Emefiele’s visit to the Presidential Villa was his first since he resumed work at CBN after his controversial leave on January 12.

The CBN governor traveled out of the country fearing that he would be arrested by State Security Service (SSS) operatives over several allegations against him, including terrorism financing.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the Federal High Court in Abuja refused to issue the order sought by the SSS to arrest Mr. Emefiele. Another court in Abuja also granted an injunction sought by a civil group to prohibit the SSS from arresting the CBN chief.

This newspaper also specifically reported the return of Mr. Emefiele amid threats of arrest.

There were media reports on Monday that SSS operatives stormed the CBN headquarters and took over the office of the apex bank governor. However, the SSS denied the report.

On Thursday, the News Agency of Nigeria reported that Mr. Emefiele, who did not speak to journalists after a closed-door meeting with the president, briefed the president on the activities of the CBN since the introduction of the redesigned N200, N500 naira notes. and N1,000 denomination.

The CBN governor is believed to have the president’s support on the Naira redesign and withdrawal limit policy introduced by the apex bank in December 2022.