*DSS denies invading Emefiele's Office.
Peter Obi, Labour Party presidential candidate. Image: Vanguard.
The Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi on Monday said changing the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Governor Godwin Emefiele will not stop the high level of fiscal rascality fueling inflation and other economic issues in the country.
Obi said that the Central Bank has a vital role to play in monetary policy while maintaining its independence, which he assured that Emefiele will uphold.
He was speaking on Monday at the Chatham House in London.
He said, “People are talking about the Central Bank Governor, first let me assure you that the CBN governor will maintain his independence, he will be respected.
“Again, it is not the problem of the person there. CBN has a role in monetary policy. Then, you have the fiscal ecosystem. It’s like you go to a football match and the person who is supposed to be playing a particular wing is no longer there.
“Replacing Godwin Emefiele and putting somebody else there, with that level of fiscal rascality, which is what is fuelling our inflation and our rate of exchange today… these are some of the things we need to cut”.
A statement signed by the CBN Director of Corporate Communications, Osita Nwanisobi said that Emefiele has resumed duties after his annual leave.
DSS denies invasion.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Secret Service, the DSS has denied that its operatives invaded Emefiele’s office upon his resumption on Monday.
A statement signed by its spokesperson, Peter Afunanya read:
“The attention of the Department of State Services (DSS) has been drawn to the false news making the round that its operatives invaded the Central Bank of Nigeria and arrested its Governor, today 16/1/23. This is fake news and quite misleading,” DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, said.
Since last year, the DSS has been seeking to detain the CBN Governor, Emefiele over allegations of terrorism financing and financial crimes that they say jeopardize national security.
Recently, a Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice M.A. Hassan gave an order restraining the defendants including the DSS, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the CBN, from arresting, detaining and questioning Emefiele.
Godwin Emefiele, CBN Governor.
Earlier, the Federal High Court in Abuja declined an ex parte application by the DSS to arrest and detain Emefiele as the
the presiding judge, Justice J. T. Tsoho ruled that the DSS did not adduce any concrete evidence to substantiate its claims that Emefiele was financing terrorism and participated in economic crimes.
The CBN Governor had been on vacation in the United Kingdom.
Economy. Politics and Opinion.
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