Breaking: DSS makes U-turn, says Emefiele in custody

The Department of State Services (DSS) has declared that the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, is in its custody.

This is coming barely a few hours after the DSS said Emefiele was not in its custody.

It was earlier reported that the DSS operatives arrested Emefiele immediately after his suspension was approved by President Bola Tinubu on Friday, June 9, 2023.

A credible source disclosed that the DSS had wanted to arrest Emefiele before now but for the quiet intervention of former President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that the secret police had gone to court to secure an order to effect the CBN boss’ arrest for alleged terrorism financing.

But the DSS, in a tweet on its Twitter account on Saturday, June 10, said: “Currently, Emefiele is not with the DSS.”

However, the secret police, in a new statement issued by its spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, and shared on its Twitter handle, stated: “The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby confirms that Mr Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is now in its custody for some investigative reasons.

READ ALSO: DSS speaks on Emefiele’s arrest

“The public, particularly the media, is enjoined to apply utmost caution in the reportage and narratives concerning this.”

President Tinubu suspended Emefiele as CBN Governor on Friday over the ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy.

Emefiele was directed to immediately hand over the affairs of his office to the Deputy Governor (Operations Directorate), who will act as the Central Bank Governor pending the conclusion of the investigation and the reforms.

The Star recalls that a High Court sitting in Abuja, in December 2022, stopped the DSS from arresting Emefiele over alleged terrorism financing and economic crimes.

The presiding judge, Justice M.A. Hassan, described the attempt to arrest Emefiele as oppressive, baseless, fabricated, and unacceptable.

Apart from the DSS, others restrained by the court order were the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the CBN.

Emefiele assumed office as CBN Governor in 2014 after succeeding Lamido Sanusi, who was also suspended from office by former President Goodluck Jonathan a few months before the expiration of his tenure.

The Star