By Dipo Olowookere
The Department of State Service (DSS) has been accused of plotting to frame up the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mr Godwin Emefiele for terrorism financing.
Addressing newsmen on Monday, a group known as the Coalition of National Interest Defenders said it has concrete evidence to support its claims.
The convener of the coalition, Mr Tochukwu Ohazuruike, in his speech to the media, further alleged that the plan is to keep Mr Emefiele for at least 60 days until after the general elections next year.
The group, which comprises human rights lawyers and civil groups, said the DSS has already filed a suit at a Federal High Court in Abuja to pick up the banker for terrorism financing and other crimes, with the intent to remove him from office eventually.
But the coalition said it would resist this plot, claiming that this move may have been birthed because of the decision of the CBN to redesign the naira notes, especially the N200, N500, and N1,000 denominations.
“As we stand here right now to address you, what we are about to tell you, we still do not believe it can happen, but indeed, it has happened. Unbelievable as it may sound, it is a fact and only the fact that we shall state to you today.
“Fellow Nigerians, we have firmly in our custody genuine hard-core evidence of a plot by the State Security Service (SSS) to frame the Governor of the CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele, for terrorism financing.
“They plot to keep him up and keep him away for at least 60 days in solitary conferment, which will pave the way for the forceful removal of the CBN Governor from office and destabilise the President Muhammadu Buhari/CBN economic stability and reform efforts, especially the new currency design and cashless withdrawal limits policy, which in the immediate will help President Buhari achieve his promise for credible election in 2023,” Mr Ohazuruike said.
