The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has been taken into custody by Nigeria’s secret police, the State Security Service (SSS), hours after President Bola Tinubu suspended him from office.
“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,” Peter Afunanya, the spokesperson for the agency, said in a press statement.
He was picked up from his home in Lagos and flown to Abuja, guarded by a detachment of operatives. He was then driven to the SSS’ headquarters in the Asokoro District of the nation’s capital.
Though there were speculations Friday night that the SSS arrested Mr Emefiele shortly after he was suspended, the law enforcement agency tweeted Saturday morning, saying the top banker was not in its custody.
It is unclear why the SSS is holding the embattled official. But the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation said Friday that his office, the CBN, was under investigation.
Mr Emefiele also faced criticism due to his controversial foray into partisan politics, which saw him contest for the presidential ticket of the ruling All Progressive Congress. Although the governor tried to deny his involvement in partisan politics, support groups were calling for his emergence as flagbearer of the ruling party.
The governor’s unprecedented involvement in partisan politics attracted widespread condemnation, with experts expressing worries about the governor’s impartiality and the autonomy of the CBN.
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