Former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, is alleged to have operated 593 illegal bank accounts in the United States, United Kingdom, and China, totaling billions of naira. The revelation, made by Special Investigator Jim Obaze, indicates unauthorized transactions amounting to £543,482,213 in the UK alone.
Emefiele, currently held in Kuje Custodial Centre for N1.2 billion procurement fraud, faces additional charges related to the CBN naira redesign policy. It is reported that he could be prosecuted, along with former President Buhari's aide Tunde Sabiu and 12 CBN directors, for the illegal issuance of currency.
The investigation reveals that the naira redesign initiative was undertaken without proper approval, raising questions about transparency and adherence to legal procedures. The report suggests that Emefiele contracted the redesign to a UK-based company, De La Rue, for £205,000.
Moreover, the CBN investigation exposes alleged misuse of funds, including the fraudulent use of N26.627 trillion in Ways and Means and mishandling of the COVID-19 intervention fund. The report unveils instances where approvals were granted in anticipation, violating established protocols.
Intriguingly, the investigation discloses that legal fees totaling N1.7 billion were spent on questionable cases related to the naira redesign policy. Emefiele is also accused of misrepresenting presidential approval for the NESI Stabilisation Strategy Limited, leading to the alleged theft of N1.325 billion.
The comprehensive probe further implicates Emefiele in the alleged manipulation of the naira exchange rate, fraudulent implementation of the e-naira project, and the exemption of three foreign firms from income tax.
As the former CBN governor faces an array of serious allegations, including the strange illegal withdrawal of $6.23 million from the CBN vault with a forged presidential letter, the unfolding saga raises significant concerns about financial governance during his tenure. Emefiele's legal team is yet to respond to the latest revelations.
Stay tuned for further developments as the legal proceedings unfold, reshaping the narrative of one of Nigeria's most prominent financial figures.
