Senate Panel Vows to issue warrant of Arrest on CBN Governor over $289m

Posted by admin CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria), Latest Politics Tuesday, March 24th, 2020

Senate on Public Account on Tuesday considered issuing warrant of arrest on Governor of Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele over failure to appear before the Committee on release of $289 million to former National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke in cash.

Speaking on the investigation, the Chairman of Senate Committee on Public Account, Senator Matthew Urhoghide said that the Central Bank Governor has been summoned several times before the committee on the $289 million but ignored the invitation of the Committee.

He added further no official of the CBN has deemed it important to honour the invitations of the Committee on the ongoing investigation.

Urhoghide said, ” We have summoned CBN Governor, it is the only part remaining in the investigation, neither has the CBN Governor sent any of his official, they have to corroborate the story whether they are correct or not correct.

” The Committee is considering to issue warrant of arrest on Governor of Central Bank. Over 10 issues are needed to be addressed by CBN Governor. ”

According to the chairman, other issues like sales of of Federal Bounds, collection Account and discrepancies in figures between the agencies and CBN are need to be addressed by the Governor of Apex bank.

Last week, the Director of Finance of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Godwin Okowonko told the Committee that the $289 million was released to Former NIA Director General. According to Okonkwo, the $289million cash given to the former NIA boss by the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN) was based on directive to that effect from NNPC. The $43million scandal that led to the sacking of Ayodele Oke as the Director – General of National Intelligence Agency ( NIA) was a fraction of $289million cash collected by the DG from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC) .wp_posts