The Department of State Services (DSS) has finally confirmed that Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is in its custody.
The official confirmation of the whereabout of Emefiele was contained in a press release by the Public Relations Officer, DSS, Peter Afunanya, PhD fsi.
The DSS spokesperson further stated that Emefiele put in custody for some investigative reasons.
He, however, admonished the public, especially the media, to be cautious in their narratives and reportage concerning the development.
This effectively put paid to speculations surrounding the arrest of Emefiele, whose suspension was announced by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, late Friday evening.
“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 some investigative reasons.
“The public, particularly the Media, is enjoined to apply utmost caution in the reportage and narratives concerning this,” the DSS spokesperson stated in the release dated 10 June, 2023.
Recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had, following the suspension of Emefiele, instructed him to hand over the affairs of his office to the Deputy Governor (Operations Directorate).
The president had directed that the suspension of Emefiele was with immediate effect.
He was further instructed to hand over the affairs of his office to the Deputy Governor (Operations Directorate), who will act as the CBN Governor, pending the conclusion of the investigation and the reforms.
The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation had, in a press release, announced the suspension of Emefiele as the CBN Governor.
The indefinite suspension of Emefiele, as stated in the release, was sequel to an ongoing investigation of his office and planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy.
The three-paragraphed release, dated 9 June, 2023, was signed by the Director of Information, Willie Bassey, for the Secretary to the Government of the Federation
“President Bola Ahmed 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 investigation and the reforms,” it was stated in the release.
Sequel to the suspension of Godwin Emefiele as the CBN Governor, the mantle of leadership of the apex bank fell on the Deputy Governor (Operations Directorate), Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi.
Shonubi, was directed to take over the affairs of the Bank, pending the conclusion of investigation and the reforms being carried out.
