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Central Bank Governor, Emefiele Reportedly Granted Study Leave By Buhari To Flee Nigeria Before Tinubu’s Inauguration

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Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria has reportedly been granted study leave by President Muhammadu Buhari.

This opportunity for Emefiele to flee the country before Buhari leaves office on May 29, 2023, comes amid corruption and terrorism-financing allegations against him.

However, SaharaReporters learnt that the country’s secret police, the Department of State Services, which made futile attempts to arrest and detain Emefiele in the past over the damning allegations against him, is not happy about the prospect of seeing the CBN governor evade justice.

“The DSS has kicked against the study leave reportedly granted to Emefiele as it means he will flee the country before May 29 when another government comes in,” a source said on Friday.

Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress will be sworn in as Nigeria’s new president on May 29 barring any court judgement to the contrary as his election victory is being challenged at the election petition tribunal.

SaharaReporters had exclusively reported how the DSS accused Emefiele of sabotaging the economy, financing terrorism and committing other economic crimes.

Top government sources shared with SaharaReporters how the investigation linked Emefiele to a well-known terror financier, whom the apex bank governor had sent funds for onward transfer to controversial Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi.

Gumi is known for hobnobbing with terrorists and bandits and advocating that amnesty should be granted to them.

 

In 2022, one of Gumi’s associates, Tukur Mamu, was arrested and detained by Interpol at Cairo International Airport in Egypt while awaiting a connecting flight to Saudi Arabia. Upon his return to Nigeria, he was arrested by the DSS over allegations that he was heading to Saudi Arabia to meet with some international terrorists.

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Meanwhile, the secret police said their preliminary investigation revealed various acts of terrorism financing, fraudulent activities perpetrated by Emefiele and his involvement in economic crimes of national security dimension including mismanaging the CBN subsidiary, NISRAL, and the central bank’s Anchor Borrowers Programme.

 

The secret police also accused Emefiele of “fraud, money laundering, round tripping and conferment of financial benefit to self and others.”

The agency sought a court warrant to arrest the CBN governor but Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, refused to grant the application, citing an irregularity in the procedure adopted by the DSS in its application.

 

In court documents obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, the DSS in its application filed as an ex parte motion, sought court permission to detain Emefiele for 60 days to conclude an ongoing investigation into his alleged crimes.

The application was reportedly supported by an affidavit deposed to by a DSS official, Umar Salihu, who summarised the details of the investigations into the weighty crimes Emefiele allegedly committed.

The documents revealed that Emefiele had been funding “unknown gunmen” terrorising Southeast Nigeria.

PREMIUM TIMES quoted the deponent of the affidavit as saying, “There is reasonable suspicion that the respondent (Mr Emefiele) was involved in terrorism financing, aiding and abetting acts of terrorism, economic crimes of national security dimension and for undermining the security of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

According to Salihu, the agency needed to apply to the court “for an order enabling the applicant to detain the respondent for 60 days, pending the conclusion of ongoing investigation …”

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SaharaReporters had also reported how Emefiele nursed presidential ambition and attempted to vie for the office on the platform of the ruling APC.

After facing opposition from some quarters including within the CBN, Emefiele approached the Delta State High Court sitting in Kwale, Ndokwa West Local Government Area, Delta State, to get an order restraining the apex bank and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from stopping him from contesting the 2023 presidential election.

He eventually backed down after it was clear that he would have to resign from office to contest the presidential primary election of the ruling party.

Also, the DSS had made attempts to arrest Emefiele after accusing him of sponsoring terrorism but a Federal High Court in Maitama, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja issued an order restraining the secret police from arresting the CBN governor.

 

This ruling, delivered by Justice M.A. Hassan also applies to others listed as defendants – the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the CBN.

Earlier, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja declined an application filed by the DSS to arrest and detain Emefiele over the grave allegations against him.

In declining the motion ex parte filed by the secret police, Justice J. T. Tsoho, the Chief Judge, said the DSS did not provide any concrete evidence to substantiate its claims that Emefiele was involved in terrorism financing and economic crimes.

During the period, Emefiele was out of the country and delayed his stay abroad after claiming he was sick and undergoing treatment.

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Upon Emefiele’s return to Nigeria in January 2023 after spending several weeks away, SaharaReporters reported how the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, deployed military personnel and intelligence officers to ensure that he was not arrested by the DSS.

Sources at the CBN told SaharaReporters that the security personnel that accompanied Emefiele to the bank were larger than that of President Buhari.

 

“Emefiele has returned to Nigeria. He went to the CBN with massive security. He was given military protection. His security is bigger than that of the President,” one of the sources had said in a terse message to SaharaReporters.

In March, a former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, said Emefiele’s life would be made miserable by the incoming administration of president-elect, Bola Tinubu.

According to Sani, Emefiele’s life and activities under the incoming government will be like ‘Zebra in the hands of Tigers’.

Sani, who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the 8th Assembly made the statement on his Twitter page a week after the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, declared Tinubu as the winner of the 2023 presidential election.

Considering the controversies that have surrounded the Naira redesign and cashless policy under Emefiele’s leadership in CBN and the fact that Tinubu alleged that the Naira redesign policy was targeted at sabotaging his presidential ambition, Sani said, “When Baba is gone, Emefiele will be like Zebra in the hands of Tigers.”

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House of Representatives Summons Customs Chief Over Retirement Issues, Threatens Arrest of NIMC Director General

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By John Audu, Abuja .

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has summoned Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, to appear before the committee next Tuesday. This summons comes in response to a petition alleging that several senior officials within the service have refused to retire despite reaching their designated retirement dates.

The Obasi-Pherson Help Foundation filed the petition, claiming that Assistant Comptrollers and Comptrollers, including Imam, Umar, Egwu, Awe, Fatia, and Faith, have ignored their retirement obligations.

In issuing the summons, the committee emphasized the Comptroller General’s responsibility as a public servant to clarify the situation to the Nigerian public. Mike Etaba, Chairman of the Committee on Public Petitions, stated, “Nigerians deserve to know the truth of the matter, and it is only the CG that can clarify the situation. We are elected to serve the people, and part of that service is ensuring that all government agencies operate effectively. In a time when many young people are seeking employment, it is unacceptable for those who are due for retirement to remain in service.”

Etaba further assured that the committee would approach the issue impartially, ensuring that each case is evaluated on its own merits.

In a related matter, the committee has threatened to issue an arrest warrant for the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Identity Management Commission (NIMC) if she fails to attend a hearing regarding allegations of non-payment for a software development project. The project was executed by Truid Limited, which claims that NIMC has breached their licensing agreement.

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According to E. R. Opara, legal counsel for Truid Limited, the agreement allowed for the development and deployment of a tokenization system without any financial obligation from NIMC, with returns on investment to be shared with service providers for an initial ten-year period starting in 2021. However, the situation reportedly changed with the appointment of a new NIMC Director General, who has attempted to undermine the agreement.

Chairman Mike Etaba expressed frustration over the NIMC Director General’s repeated absences from hearings. “If she fails to show up at the next session, we will have no choice but to request the Inspector General of Police to ensure her attendance. It is unacceptable for a government official to disregard the authority of this committee,” he stated.

As these developments unfold, the House of Representatives is taking a firm stance to ensure accountability and transparency within Nigeria’s public service.

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Aggrieved Police Officers Demand PSC Compliance with Court Judgment on Appointment Regularization

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By: Zagazola Makama

Aggrieved police officers from Courses 33, 34, and 35 of the Police Academy have kicked against any attempt to forcefully retire them from service and called on the Police Service Commission (PSC) to immediately comply with the judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), which ordered the regularization of their first appointment dates.

It would be recalled that the PSC at a meeting in Abuja earlier this month ordered the immediate retirement of all senior police officers who have either exceeded 35 years in service or are above the age of 60.

The spokesman of the commission, Ikechukwu Ani, recalled that the Commission at its 24th Plenary Meeting of 27th and 28th September 2017, approved that the Force Entrants should have their date of appointment in the Force against the date of their enlistment.

The Commission revisited their decision and has come to the conclusion that the said decision in its intent and purpose contradicted the principle of a merger of service in the public service, and it is in violation of Public Service Rule No 020908 (i & ii) which provides for retirement on the attainment of 35 years in service or 60 years of age.

“Accordingly, the Commission at its 1st extraordinary meeting of the 6th Management Board held today, Friday, 31st January 2025, approved the immediate retirement of those officers who have spent more than 35 years in service and those above 60 years of age,” Ani had said.

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But the aggrieved officers argued that, Despite the April 19, 2022, ruling and subsequent reinforcement of the judgment on February 4, 2025, the officers alleged that the PSC has failed to implement the directive, thereby denying them their rightful ranks, promotions, and entitlements.

Recalled that in 2021, The officers, led by CSP Egong Egwu Egong, CSP Omeh Felix Okechukwu, CSP Paul Obot Umoh, and SP Galadima Bello, won a legal battle in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/281/2021, in which the court ruled that their first appointment date should be the date they entered the Police Academy, not when enlisted as recruit constable.

The National Industrial Court, presided over by Justice O. A. Obaseki Osaghae, reaffirmed in its latest sitting that the PSC and the Nigeria Police Force must recognize the officers’ first appointment dates as follows: Course 33 – June 10, 1994, Course 34 – August 6, 1996, Course 35 – May 1, 2000

The court also ordered that: The decision of the PSC at its 24th Plenary Meeting regularizing the officers’ appointment dates remains valid and binding. The officers’ records must reflect their correct first appointment dates as per the court ruling. The premature retirement of some affected officers must be reversed, and they should be paid their full entitlements.

The PSC and the Police Force are restrained from unlawfully retiring officers of Courses 33, 34, and 35 before their actual due dates.

However, During a recent court proceeding, counsel for the officers, Adeleke Agbola (SAN), informed the court that the PSC had issued a circular contradicting the judgment by insisting that the officers’ first appointment date would be based on their commissioning date, not their academy entry date.

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Agbola argued that this action amounted to contempt of court, as the judgment had not been appealed and remained binding on all parties. He urged the court to maintain the status quo and proceed with committal proceedings against the PSC for non-compliance.

In response, counsel for the PSC, Ade Adedeji (SAN), assured the court that the defendants intended to comply with the judgment, stating that there was no pending appeal challenging the ruling. He also noted that steps had been taken to post the affected officers accordingly and that the PSC had no intention of undermining the court’s decision.

The court adjourned the matter to March 18, 2025, for a report on full compliance or hearing of contempt proceedings against the PSC.

Following the court session, the aggrieved officers have urged the PSC to immediately implement the judgment, update their service records, reinstate unlawfully retired officers, and grant them their due promotions and benefits.

They warned that continued delay would amount to willful disobedience of a valid court order, which could lead to legal consequences for the PSC and police authorities.

The officers further called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Attorney General of the Federation to intervene and ensure that justice is served in line with the rule of law.

Background to the Dispute

The case dates back to longstanding grievances by police officers of Courses 33, 34, and 35, who argued that while their colleagues in similar categories had their appointments regularized, they were denied the same recognition.

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The PSC is now asking for their retirement despite the National Industrial Court ruling which was disobeyed or delayed by the concerned authorities. This delays in implementation have left the officers frustrated and seeking further legal enforcement.

With the next court hearing scheduled for March 18, 2025, all eyes are on the PSC and the Nigeria Police Force to see whether they will comply with the judgment or face contempt proceedings.

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BREAKING: Nigerian Customs Service has suspended the enforcement of the 4% percent Free-on-Board value on imported goods.

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By John Audu, Abuja

The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has suspended the enforcement of the 4% Free-on-Board (FOB) value on imported goods, following consultations with stakeholders, including the Minister of Finance, Olawale Edun

This decision aims to allow for further discussions and refinement of the implementation framework of the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023.

The 4% FOB charge was introduced to drive the effective operation of the NCS, covering the value of imported goods, including cost and transportation expenses .However, stakeholders, including manufacturers and freight forwarders, expressed concerns and called for a suspension of the charge, citing its potential impact on businesses and the economy

During the suspension period, the NCS will focus on optimizing financial management to align with stakeholder interests and national economic objectives ¹. The service remains committed to implementing the NCSA 2023 in a manner that balances revenue generation with trade facilitation, addressing stakeholder concerns.

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Nigeria Police Force Orders Retirement of Officers Involved in Forgery and Age Falsification

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By John Audu.

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has officially sanctioned the retirement of all officers implicated in serious infractions, including forgery, age falsification, and violations of service regulations aimed at extending their tenure beyond the mandatory retirement age.

A police wireless message dated February 10, 2025, addressed to all zonal commands and departments, confirmed the decision made by the Police Service Commission (PSC) during its 1st Extraordinary Meeting of the 6th Management Board. This meeting focused on the regularization of the appointment dates for Cadet Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs) and Inspectors.

The memo, referenced as CH:8400/FS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.2/294, stated: “Re: Police Service Commission decision at its 1st Extraordinary Meeting of the 6th Management Board on the regularization of date of first appointment of Cadet ASPs/Inspectors force entrants. INGENPOL firmly directs you to proceed with full implementation of POLSCOM directives as conveyed in MYLET No. CH:8400/FS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.2/292, dated 01/02/2025. This signal supersedes MYSIG No. CH:8400/FS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.2/293 DTO: 051604/02/2025 for your strict compliance. Acknowledge receipt.”

On February 5, 2025, SaharaReporters reported that Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun had halted the retirement of senior police officers who had either served for over 35 years or were above the age of 60. This directive contradicted an earlier communication from Egbetokun, dated February 1, 2025, that instructed the immediate retirement of the affected officers, which included notable figures such as Simon Lough, SAN, Head of the NPF Legal Section, and Benneth Igweh, former Federal Capital Territory Police Commissioner.

The February 1 letter emphasized the importance of implementing the PSC’s decision regarding the retirement of officers who had exceeded the service threshold. It referenced an earlier communication from the PSC dated January 31, 2025, that explicitly stated: “The Commission has approved the immediate retirement of those officers who have spent 35 years in service and those above 60 years of age.”

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However, a subsequent police signal dated February 5, 2025, obtained by SaharaReporters, instructed a halt to all actions related to the retirement of these senior officers pending further directives. The signal stated: “POLICE SERVICE COMMISSION DECISION AT ITS 1ST EXTRA ORDINARY MEETING OF THE 6TH MANAGEMENT BOARD ON THE REGULARIZATION OF DATE OF FIRST APPOINTMENT OF CADET ASPS/INSPECTORS FORCE ENTRANTS X REF. MYLET CH:8400/FS/FHQ/AB3/VOL.2/292 DATED 1ST FEBRUARY 2025 X INGENPOL STRONGLY DIRECTS X YOU STAY ACTION ON LET UNDER REF X PENDING FURTHER DIRECTIVE X FOR YOUR STRICT COMPLIANCE X ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT X PLEASE X.”

Sources indicate that this latest directive was issued following an order from President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which instructed the police to cease the retirement of these senior officers. “The Villa told them to stop the retirement. Imagine, all this came after those affected have been given their retirement letters,” a police source revealed.

The implicated officers, based on their enlistment dates, should have retired but remained in service. For example, Simon Asamber Lough was due for retirement on January 8, 2022. Other officers listed include Benneth Chinedu Igweh (January 5, 2023), Akinbayo Olasukami Olasoji, Louis Chike Nwabuwa, Mukar Sule, Adamu Danjuma, Ajao Olusegun, and Iriemi Solomon.

This situation highlights ongoing issues within the Nigeria Police Force regarding adherence to retirement policies and the management of personnel implicated in misconduct.

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