A man who accused the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, of fraud has been remanded in prison after he said Mr Emefiele should not be given another term.

The accuser, George Uboh, who heads the nongovernmental George Uboh Whistleblowers Network, was remanded on May 23 in Suleja prison following a defamation suit filed by Mr Emefiele.

Mr Uboh was arrested as he was leaving the court after being granted bail in another matter last week, his lawyer, JohnMary Jideobi, said.

Background


Mr Uboh was the first to file a suit against Mr Emefiele at the Federal High Court, Abuja, challenging the federal government’s plans to extend the appointment of Mr Emiefele.

Mr Uboh, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/419/2019, wanted the court to stop the re-appointment.

Despite an exparte order, Mr Emiefiele was yet to answer the pending case when the Senate confirmed him for a second term in office.

In the suit brought before the Federal High Court, Abuja division, Mr Uboh said the federal government could not ask the Senate to confirm Mr Emiefele’s reappointment “when a matter challenging his stewardship at the Central Bank before the court had not been decided.”


According to copies of the suit seen by PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Uboh accused the CBN governor of conniving with the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to defraud Nigerians.

In an affidavit deposed to by Martin Okoye, a lawyer at the chambers of Mr Jideobi, the applicant said Mr Emefiele connived with the NNPC to divert $24 million from funds which accrued to Nigeria through the sale of petroleum products in the country.


“In January, 2016, NNPC issued an instruction to the CBN; headed by the Defendant to transfer $162, 064, 237.46 to CBN/JV Cash Call Account 001-1-658-366 with JP Morgan and Debit CBN/NNPC Crude Oil Revenue Domiciliary Account No. 400941775.


“That a closer scrutiny of “Exhibit GUWN 8” and “Exhibit GUWN 9” clearly shows that while revenue from gas may have been correctly stated, that of crude oil was understated to the tune of Twenty Four Million United States Dollars [$24, 000, 000.00].

“That the instruction of the NNPC directing the CBN to remit $162, 064, 237.46 instead of the $186, 327, 246.02 it generated clearly reveals the collusion of the Defendant with the NNPC to rip the Treasury of the Federal Government and the FAAC of $24, 263, 008.56. Now shown to me and marked as “Exhibit SUIT 1.”


The applicant also said Mr Emiefele diverted over $760 million from foreign exchange earnings.

“In 2017, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) confirmed to have sold forex to Bureau De Change (BDCs) at four (4) different locations across the Federation, namely Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Awka. The Apex Bank further confirmed that a total sum of Four Billion, One Hundred and Fifty Nine Million, Nine Hundred and Sixteen Thousand United States Dollars [$4, 159, 916, 000.00] were sold to the BSCs in 2017.

“That despite the Apex Bank selling forex to the BDCs at the rates of N360.00 to N381.00 per Dollar in 2017, it never declared more than N304-N305 per dollar. This occasioned a huge loss of over N232 billion (which is an equivalent of $760 million) to the Federal Government’s Treasury from the forex sales of BDCs alone, representing exchange gains which should have been disclosed to the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee [FAAC].”


With the pending suit filed against him, which he was yet to respond to, Mr Emefiele ensured Mr Uboh’s arrest and prosecution.

Mr Uboh was arrested by operatives of the Police Force Criminal Investigations Department

Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/332011-whistleblower-accusing-cbn-governor-of-fraud-sent-to-prison.html

Funny people everywhere

Bad.


That guy was plain daft.

It's not every time "you see something that you must say something ".

While whistle blowing on the opposition is welcomed, doing such on members of the ruling party may land you in "hot soup" even if you back it up with VAR evidence.

Don't be making accusations with no evidence.

Yes, the CBN governor might be guilty. But, if you cannot back it up with evidence other than hearsay, forget it...or risk getting into trobule.

Modified

To further clarify, whistleblowing is a legit activity. But if you cannot back it up with HARD EVIDENCE....then you better think otherwise.

tactius:
Don't be making accusations with no evidence.

Yes, the CBN governor might be guilty. But, if you cannot back it up with evidence other than hearsay, forget it...or risk getting into trobule.

I doubt if you read before posting this rubbish.

Now the best way is to jail him right.

Thank God is an igbo. The tribafools would have started crying up and down

Trust this government at your own peril

matify83:
Bad

I love what happened to him and I think they should execute him if possible.Some people are too good at pulling others down

Thought whistle blowers identity are supposed to be protected.

George why!!!

Chai!! This guy did not only cast CBN governor, he cast everybody, including NNPC & Presidency...

INFact dude may be spending the rest of his life in remand, Dasuki and El zakzaki matter fit better pass this guy own o

Only in Nigeria people get arrested and sent to jail for stupid reasons.

That's What You Get When You Rat

Good For Him

Blow whistle at your own peril

This matter should be investigated properly and adequately.

Nigerians must know the true position of things here.

bettercreature:
He was sponsored by people contesting for the post

Hmmmm, this is deep....Maybe yes, maybe No.
This needs absolute investigation!

lomprico:
Trust this government at your own peril

True talk
Everything changes with the fraudulent conmen.

This is bad

person no fit talk him mind again

prison warder go blow whistle give u back law of karma whatever a man sow shall he reap. Nigeria is ........... fill in the gap

Iyajelili:
Thought whistle blowers identity are supposed to be protected.

APC government told you something and you want to believe it?
OYO
Especially when it's coming out from the mouth of the chief liar himself.

When your accomplice are in power anyone that dares to accuse you will be dealth with without looking back.

If Mr uboh claim is true they can't cover it.

Blow whistle against APC and go to jail can't be accepted by well meaning Nigerians.

George MUMUNI Uboh
A Conehead

geolabious:


I doubt if you read before posting this rubbish.

Now the best way is to jail him right.

Thank God is an igbo. The tribafools would have started crying up and down

First, thanks for abusing me and calling my comment rubbish.

Second, it isn't enough to make accusations, one must bring out hard evidence like documents, etc...

Did Mr Whistleblower bring out the hard evidence??/

I'm all for prosecuting corrupt officials, but let's do this properly. EFCC just lost a case because they could not substatiate it with hard evidence.

Good morning to you.

slimmax:
Blow whistle at your own peril

Meaning that whistle blowing are for opposition members alone.

Blow against APC and see anyhow, too bad.

Brave man though the monster is too big for you,corruption in this country is beyond imagination, even the youth of tomorrow have towed the line.when you speak against it they threaten you

tactius:
Don't be making accusations with no evidence.

Yes, the CBN governor might be guilty. But, if you cannot back it up with evidence other than hearsay, forget it...or risk getting into trobule.

The foolish man didn’t even stop after accusing the governor,He single handedly took the governor to court
He was being used so I believe the person using him should come and save him