DSS Speaks On Arresting Suspended CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele

DSS has broken silence on the report suggesting its arrested suspended CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele.

Newsone reports that the Department of State Services (DSS) says Godwin Emefiele, the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is not in its custody.

This online news platform recalls that there were reports that Emefiele was arrested by operatives of the secret police following the announcement of his suspension by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Reacting in a terse statement posted on Twitter on Saturday morning, the DSS said the suspended CBN governor is “currently” not in detention.

“Currently, Emefiele is not with the DSS,” the tweet reads.

Currently, Emefiele is not with the DSS.

— Department of State Services (DSS) (@OfficialDSSNG) June 10, 2023

The DSS however failed to elaborate on whether he was previously apprehended.

Newsone Nigeria had reported earlier that the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) announced Emefiele’s suspension on Friday.

The director of information, SGF office, Willie Bassey, had said Emefiele was to transfer his responsibilities to the deputy governor, operations directorate.

Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi, the deputy governor, is expected to act as the CBN governor pending the conclusion of an investigation of Emefiele’s office.

DSS Probe Of Suspended CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele

Governor Emefiele has been the subject of investigations by the DSS over alleged terrorism financing since late 2022.

The secret police had approached a federal high court in Abuja seeking a warrant to arrest him. The court, however, declined the application on the grounds that the DSS did not provide any concrete evidence to substantiate its claims.

A federal capital territory (FCT) high court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, later issued an order restraining the security agency from arresting the now-suspended CBN Governor Emefiele.