The Central Bank of Nigeria has denied the sack of its Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, describing the report as an unfounded rumour.
It was rumoured on Wednesday morning that Emefiele had been sacked by Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, purportedly for his presidential ambition.
The Punch had earlier sought clarification from the CBN’s spokesman, Mr Osita Nwanisiobi, but got no response from him.
However, several papers are quoting Nwanisiobi as denying the trending report, saying, “I heard it just the way you got it too. As far as I am concerned, it’s a rumour, I’m not aware of any sack.”
Recall that Emefiele had, on May 9, headed to a Federal High Court in Abuja to seek a constitutional interpretation on his non-resignation while pursuing his presidential interests.
It was also revealed that Emefiele is a member of All Progressives Congress in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Read Also: 2023: Buhari Orders Emefiele, Other Appointees To Resign
Chairman of Ward 6 in the Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, Mr Nduka Erikpume, in a telephone chat with one of our correspondents, had said the CBN governor had registered as an APC member.
When asked whether Emefiele had registered in the APC, Erikpume said, “Yes, he has registered since February 2021. He is our member.”
Condemnations have trailed Emefiele’s involvement in politics, with experts saying it could jeopardise the integrity of the country’s financial system.
Some lawyers, however, have argued that the CBN Act provides that Emefiele can only be removed with a two-thirds majority of the Senate.
A precedent was, nevertheless, set with the indefinite suspension of a former CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Source: Punch