Godwin Emefiele, CBN governor, has reportedly failed to resume official duties after exhausting his approved vacation period, Peoples Gazette can confirm.

This is as the apex bank governor has concluded plans to seek asylum in the United Kingdom over developing threats to his position and personal safety from the State Security Service.

However, The Gazette doesn’t know when he’s filing his asylum application but he is ready.

Mr Emefiele had in December received presidential approval to proceed on vacation until January 9.

Sources, however, told The Gazette that the apex bank chief, who was billed to resume work today, had not shown up as of noon on Monday and that he is not on his way back to the country.

The tension surrounding his much expected return borders around the uncertainty that has enveloped the economy, especially the capital markets.

According to the source, the bank’s chief is still shuttling between the UK and United States. The situation is still not very comfortable for him, per a source familiar with the matter.

Mr Emefiele, who has been forced to remain abroad due to plots to implicate him as a financier of terrorism, has been weighing his options there.

People familiar with his schedule said the CBN governor departed Nigeria between December 9 and 10, then made an appearance with President Muhammadu Buhari during a well-publicised trip to Washington that ended on December 17.

Sources say that Mr Emefiele would be willing to return to Nigeria if the president could offer protection from state goons at the SSS.

Allegations have flared that the covert police secured the backing of Mr Buhari and other high-ranking government officials to launch an attack against the CBN governor.

However, Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High in a December 13, 2022, ruling declined to authorise an arrest warrant sought by the SSS to take Mr Emefiele into custody.

Mr Tsoho said the secret police had failed to establish its claims against Mr Emefiele, while also obscuring his identity in order to deceive the court into granting an erroneous motion.

The Gazette learnt that the president has not taken a definitive position yet on the stalemate.

Mr Emefiele’s decision to redesign the naira and limit cash withdrawals, presumably intended to curb vote-buying at the 2023 elections, may have earned him strong political adversaries and landed him in a war with other loyalists of the regime.

Victor Ndukwoba, a business analyst with Afro Invest, said the country cannot afford any unneeded controversies at a time when the economy is not doing well in an interview with The Gazette about the effects of Mr Emefiele’s absence on the country’s economy.

Mr Ndukwoba stated that while the bank has a structure that will allow operations to continue while the head of the apex bank is away for an extended period of time, his prolonged absence wasn’t good for the country’s economy.

“It doesn’t go well for an economy that is already still sort of grappling with all sorts of issues like revenue challenges on the fiscal side; you know government revenue is challenged, we have issues around debt and debt sustainability, and the central bank has obviously been a key part of funding government activities.

“The central bank governor will continue to play a key role in the economy, the monetary policy, managing FX and others. So, a prolonged absence from office will obviously have a negative impact,” he said.

“But again, I’ll like to believe that the Central Bank has the appropriate structures to allow extended time away for principal officers within its organs. There is the board of governors, the MPC itself, even though the central bank governor will chair that committee. But I believe in his absence there will be governance framework to allow the institution and its activities continue,” he added.

On his part, legal practitioner Festus Oguns argued that it was impossible for the apex bank boss to effectively and efficiently carry out his official duties while outside the country.

Establishing that the move by the SSS to arrest Mr Emefiele was illegal, the lawyer said the CBN chief brought distraction to himself when he showed interest of contesting for the presidency.

“While the action of the SSS trying to arrest him is not supported by law, I believe that his personal travail occasioned by his unwarranted and his needless involvement in politics while in office; should not be at the expense of the generality of our people,” Mr Oguns said

kettykin:
If I were him , I would fax my resignation letter to Buhari from there, but wait a minute, that would mean the enemies of Nigeria has one .
Alternatively apply for more leave and stay put abroad hoping and praying Peter Obi wins and sanity is restored in DSS with rodents flushed out of the system

dre11:


Anxiety as Emefiele misses Buhari’s deadline to return to office; CBN governor remains abroad pursuing asylum



The CBN governor departed Nigeria between December 9 and 10, made an appearance with President Muhammadu Buhari during a well-publicised visit




https://gazettengr.com/anxiety-as-emefiele-misses-buharis-deadline-to-return-to-office-cbn-governor-remains-abroad-pursuing-asylum/

Nlfpmod

SilverOrLead:
The wicked runs when no one chases them.

The allegations laid against Emefile by the DSS are very weighty - terrorism financing.

I know everything and institution about governance under the Buhari led APC govt has gone to dog shit but seriously, terrorism financing ! And to even be levelled at such a highly placed figure like the CBN governor are not trivial or flimsy allegations but very serious offences that have greater repercussions on the Nation's international standing if a Central Bank Governor can be falsely accused of such for political reasons just to get him out of office.

Its for this I sincerely feel that there may be some real hard evidence against Emefile . And when you consider how politicized Emefile had become and how he has been funding media and some phantom groups to push his cashless policies and how did same when he foolishly went to court to seek a ruling to allow him to contest the presidential primaries under the APC while still being the CBN governor, you just have to say, maybe the DSS truly have some real dirt on him.

Let's see if he will still claim asylum in the UK or take up citizenship in one of the Caribbean island nations that don't have extradition treaties/laws.

seunmsg:


Some of you are funny honestly. Some few months ago, you all were abusing Emefiele and calling him names. A lot of you even demanded for his resignation or sack over the APC primary debacle. You insulted him so much when CBN came up with the Naira redesigning policy. Today, he’s your hero who must be protected against the enemies of Nigeria. So, a president Peter Obi will protect Emefiele irrespective of the crime he has committed? Like seriously?

You have absolutely no idea why DSS is looking for him. You have absolutely no idea about the amount of intelligence available to DSS against him. You have absolutely no idea of why Emefiele himself is running away and even seeking asylum even when we all know that a clear conscience fear no accusation. You just have to defend him out of ignorance because he’s Igbo and it appears his recent policies are targeting some people you don’t like.

kettykin:
If I were him , I would fax my resignation letter to Buhari from there, but wait a minute, that would mean the enemies of Nigeria has one .
Alternatively apply for more leave and stay put abroad hoping and praying Peter Obi wins and sanity is restored in DSS with rodents flushed out of the system

seunmsg:


Some of you are funny honestly. Some few months ago, you all were abusing Emefiele and calling him names. A lot of you even demanded for his resignation or sack over the APC primary debacle. You insulted him so much when CBN came up with the Naira redesigning policy. Today, he’s your hero who must be protected against the enemies of Nigeria. So, a president Peter Obi will protect Emefiele irrespective of the crime he has committed? Like seriously?

You have absolutely no idea why DSS is looking for him. You have absolutely no idea about the amount of intelligence available to DSS against him. You have absolutely no idea of why Emefiele himself is running away and even seeking asylum even when we all know that a clear conscience fear no accusation. You just have to defend him out of ignorance because he’s Igbo and it appears his recent policies are targeting some people you don’t like.

DMerciful:
You can't be this gullible to believe Emefile is financing terrorism

dmz1:


Emefiele is not igbo he is ika/agbor

seunmsg:


He is Delta Igbo.

dmz1:


He is ika. Delta Igbo is Asaba, ogwashi uku et al.

Agbor and co are Ika.

DMerciful:
What about the terrorists list the UAE gave Nigerian government? Why aren't they doing anything about it if truly they wanna fight terrorism?

Are you this gullible?

backnbeta:
Today is just 9th; he is not too late! It's unfortunate that his anti-masses economic policies have made him more enemies than friends. He has been such a good errand boy to his principal who only looked for ways to frustrate the people; but he allowed the occasional pats on his head to get to his head

SilverOrLead:


I am not in any way holding brief for this disastrous adminstration.

I am not privy to the internal workings of the security outfits neither do I know if they have picked any of those who made the terrorist sponsoring list.

I am just stating the obvious about Emefile who happens to be the worst CBN governor ever.

I also don't buy the lie that he is being hounded by politicians over his misplaced cashless policy and useless currency redesign over what his supporters claim Emefile's policy was to avert voter inducement by politicians using cash.

The CBN isn't in the business to ensure free and credible elections so his currency swap and cashless policy are not meant for preventing vote buying by politicians but rather hold a more sinister agenda linked to his WEF approved eNaira.

As I said in my earlier post, Emefile has been dodging the NASS summons.

He has been acting as if the same NASS that has the sole powers to appoint and sack him as well as having full oversight functions of his office are beneath him.

Here is a character who did not bother to brief either the FEC or the Economic Team on his currency swap. It got so embarrassing when even the minister of finance was only made aware of the cashless and currency swap by a Senate committee .

I also wonder why you Obidients are now suddenly backing Emefile despite his series of incompetence and abuse of power as CBN boss.

Emefile should stop running if he has nothing to hide.

If its all political and they want him removed for such, he should simply return to the country and face his accusers and from there resign his position instead of searching for asylum.

Also, note that if he does not get UK govt to grant him asylum or any other western govt , then know that he truly has some dark secrets as those countries will not allow their asylum process to be abused by wanted criminals.

unclejb2:
I always see people comparing 2015 and 2023 elections and I laugh their delusions and self induced ridicule. 2015 is very different from 2023.

The chances of APC winning the 2023 elections is very slim. Buhari's calamitous performance has taught Nigerians that hunger and poverty cares neither about tribe nor religion.

There is no single individual who didn't vote APC at the presidential election in 2015 that would vote for APC in 2023. You can show me one, and prove me wrong.

I'm really wondering where APC would get their votes from? All the odds are stacked against the ruling party.

In 2015, there was no BVAS and electronic transmission of results.

In 2015, there was a Buhari on the ballot.

In 2015, was $1/N216.

In 2015, fuel was N87/1litre.

In 2015, there was no Fulani terrorists menace all across the country.

In 2015, Flight from Lagos to Abuja was N18k.

In 2015 A bag of rice was N8k.

In 2015, Osinbajo a Pastor in RCCG was running mate.

In 2015, There was no insurgency in the south east.

In 2015, Bandits were not in Nigeria.

In 2015, there were no two strong northern candidates on the ballot.

In 2015, We didn't have a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

In 2015, There was no drug baron on the ballot.

And Finally,

In 2015, WE DIDN'T HAVE A PETER OBI ON THE BALLOT.

WE ARE TAKING BACK THIS COUNTRY FORCEFULLY THROUGH THE BALLOT.

PETER OBI FOR PRESIDENT.

owobokiri:
They're done using him!

They have been using him effectively for their forex racketeering runs and with few months to go, they will now push him aside and fix a Mallam there to help them teleguide the next government!

It would have been better if he resigned by himself. But having worked so hard to enrich the president and his cronies, he felt entitled to stay on, so they decided to hang the terrorism charge on his head in other to punish him effectively. He bolted and ran away.., that's a "win win" scenario for all involved. He escapes punishment and the cabal finds enough justification to fire him and do the "needful".

They are not necessarily interested in his person, they just want him out of that position for another Mallam.

DMerciful:
You guys support APC at all cost! You forgot this same DSS laid seige on the NASS before Osinbajo sacked the then DSS boss. This is all political