By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and some civil society organisation (CSOs) under the umbrella of the Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs) have expressed their unflinching support for the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele.
It was reported this week that the Department of State Services (DSS) was planning to implicate Mr Emefiele for terrorism financing.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, the groups, which described this action as an international embarrassment, urged President Muhammdu Buhari to direct the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Abubakar Malami, to carry out a thorough investigation into the matter.
The Secretary General of CNPP, Mr Willy Ezugwu, who read the address jointly signed by himself and the National Secretary of the CNCSOs, Mr Ali Abacha, said the probe would allay the fears of the international community.
“President Buhari and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami [must] immediately put in motion the processes of suspending and thoroughly investigating the circumstances surrounding this national and international embarrassment,” the groups said, noting that the action by the security agency was politically-motivated.
“The attempt to obtain a backyard order to remove a high-ranking officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for obvious political reasons should be of serious concern to all Nigerians as we don’t know who will be the next,” they stated.
“By virtue of Section 150(1) and Section 174 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, the Attorney-General of the Federation has the powers to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person before any court of law in Nigeria.
“Therefore, nothing stops the Attorney-General of the Federation from exercising his powers in this matter to send a clear signal to the international community that Nigeria is not a banana republic where anything goes. If public office holders who err are not appropriately sanctioned, it will send a wrong signal to foreign investors and project Nigeria as a country without the rule of law.
“This is paramount as Section 174 (3) expressly states that “In exercising his powers under this section, the Attorney-General of the Federation shall have regard to the public interest, the interest of justice and the need to prevent abuse of legal process,” the coalition said.
They claimed Mr Emefiele is being wanted out of office because of his recent policy on cash withdrawals, which put the limit at N100,000 per week for individuals and N500,000 for corporates.
“Those who want to receive and spend money without any traces are those who have been kicking against the cashless policy of the CBN.
“If you have legitimate money, why are you afraid to wire the money through bank transfers? Why are you afraid of cash withdrawal limits? There is no limit to the amount you can transfer through the bank, but because they have our stolen money, they don’t want to make traceable transactions, and that is the sin of Godwin Emefiele.
“That’s why they want him out of the way before the election so that someone who can do their biddings is appointed to reverse the cashless policy implementation,” the organisations stated.
However, they assured the CBN chief that “Nigerians on the streets, who are in pains of starvation and hunger due to the continued looting of public funds meant for their well-being by some politicians, are standing with him and will vehemently resist any attempt to derail the cashless policy.”
