JUST IN: CBN Gov, Emefiele Secretly Returns To Nigeria Amid Fears Of Arrest By DSS

Godwin Emefiele, embattled Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, has reportedly returned to the country on Wednesday, PREMIUM TIMES is reporting.

Mr Emefiele has been out of the country for several weeks amidst fears he would be arrested by operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) who are investigating several allegations against him, including corruption and terrorism financing.

Sources in the apex bank and the presidency quoted by PREMIUM TIMES, said that the CBN governor got President Muhammadu Buhari’s permission for two weeks of leave which expired Tuesday.

“His holidays finished yesterday so he has to report to work today,” our source said.

We also also learnt that Mr Emefiele is planning to leave the country again very soon, afraid the secret police could eventually arrest him amidst the continuous power play at the highest levels of the Nigerian government.

“He is trying to leave within the next few days on the pretence of attending the annual World Economic Forum,” our source said.

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Senior Special Assistant to the president on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, and the spokesperson of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Osita Nwanisobi, did not respond to calls and text messages put across to them regarding the matter as of press time Thursday morning.

Emefiele’s controversial absence from the nation has been a source of worry for stakeholders in the banking sector ahead of the CBN’s first Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of the year scheduled for 23 January. The CBN boss chairs the MPC meetings in which key monetary policy decisions are taken as part of the apex bank’s efforts to control inflation, regulate banking operations, and stabilise the larger economy.