A coalition of civil society organizations has expressed concern, alleging that plans are afoot by the Department of State Services to frame the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele (DSS).
The Coalition of National Interest Defenders, a group made up of human rights lawyers, party chairmen, civil society organizations, the Arewa Youth Consultative Movement, and ethnic leaders, said the allegation was serious and too sensitive to be ignored during a press conference on Monday in Abuja.
The security agency filed a motion in court accusing the CBN Governor of financing terrorism and other crimes it described as economic crimes with a national security dimension, according to Coalition convener Tochukwu Ohazuruike.
The coalition demanded that the Director General of the DSS be fired right away and inquired as to whether the head of the top bank, who had been in office for more than seven years, could intervene.
The group claimed that even though Emefiele was permitted to travel on official business with President Muhammadu Buhari, the DSS neglected to alert him. They questioned why a terrorist financier would be permitted to be so close to the President.
It was said:
“We are challenging the authenticity of the DSS claims and if it is true, why was Emefiele allowed to go close to the President and even travel out with him?
“It showed the DG SSS did not believe Emefiele was indeed a terrorist and this, therefore, means that the claims of the SSS in Suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/2255/2022 between State Security Service and Godwin Emefiele were made with the sole purpose of forcefully and wrongfully removing the CBN Governor from office.”
The group demanded that Yusuf Magaji Bichi, the head of the DSS, be subjected to an immediate investigation and sanction if found to be in violation.
During the briefing on Monday, a sizable contingent of party supporters carrying signs urging the investigation of the claims could be seen.
