Confusion as CBN governor Emefiele resumes duty

There was confusion on Monday afternoon at the headquarters of the Central Bank of Nigeria in Abuja as the governor of the bank, Godwin Soreresumed his duties weeks after he left the country in controversial circumstances.

Mr. Emefiele has been out of the country for weeks fearing he will be arrested by State Security Service (SSS) officers who are investigating several allegations against him, including corruption and terrorism financing.

Reports indicated Monday afternoon that operatives from the State Security Service (SSS) stormed the CBN headquarters and took over the office of the top bank governor.

Online publication, Daily Nigerian, reported that the SSS operatives arrived with about 20 vehicles with armed personnel. The operation also barred all staff of the bank from gaining access to Mr. Emefiele’s office, he said.

But in a statement signed by SSS spokesman Peter Afunnaya, the secret police said the report was “false and misleading.”

“The attention of the Department of State Services (DSS) has been drawn to fake news making the rounds that its operatives raided the Central Bank of Nigeria and arrested a Governor, today 16/1/23. This is fake news and quite misleading”.

Emefiele Resume

Meanwhile, the apex bank in its statement said Mr. Emefiele resumed duties on Monday after his annual leave.

The statement, signed by the apex bank’s spokesperson, Osita Nwanisobi, said Mr. Emefiele resumed his duties ahead of the first Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of the year scheduled for January 23 to 24.

“Mr. Emefiele remains committed to the duties before him in line with the oath of office and the policy direction of President Muhammadu Buhari,” the bank said.

“While thanking the public for keeping faith with the Bank, we call on Nigerians to continue to support the Bank’s policies aimed at ensuring a stable financial system and the Nigerian economy at large.”

Last week, PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr. Emefiele quietly returned to the country, according to sources in the apex bank and the presidency.

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This newspaper also learned that Mr. Emefiele is planning to leave the country again, fearing that the secret police may eventually arrest him amid the ongoing power struggle at the highest levels of the Nigerian government. “He is trying to leave in the next few days under the pretense of attending the annual World Economic Forum,” our source said.

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Until his return on Friday afternoon, Mr. Emefiele’s controversial absence from the nation has been a source of concern for stakeholders in the banking sector ahead of the CBN’s first Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of the year scheduled for January 23. The CBN boss chairs the MPC meeting where key monetary policy decisions are taken as part of the apex bank’s efforts to control inflation, regulate banking operations, and stabilize the larger economy.