Journey to Kuje Correctional Centre: Who’s Behind Ex-Gov of CBN Emefiele’s Travails?

Nigerians may still need more time to ponder on the circumstances surrounding the embattled former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele who in most recent times replicates the Biblical fallen of an Angel from Paradise to the planet Earth.

Godwin Emefiele CFR, born on the 4th of August 1961, is a Nigerian politician, economist, and banker who served as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria from the 4th of June 2014 until his sudden suspension by President Bola Tinubu, on 9 June 2023.

Meanwhile, the abrupt force on Emefiele to relinquish power which was a sequel to the victory of President Bola Tinubu on the February 25th, 2023 general election poses a series of questions. Recall that it was in the hit of the electioneering campaigns that Emefiele the then CBN Governor implemented the popular cashless policy, coupled with the declaration of the end of the use of the old naira notes including N200, N500, & N1,000 notes.

Consequently, the policy dealt with the public like the COVID-19 global pandemic, which pushed many people across the Rubicon. It is worth noting that the said policy which was at the directive of Ex-president Muhammadu Buhari was simply politically motivated citing the fact that it was overturned by the same CBN Governor after the general election which complements the alleged claim by the then APC’s Presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu who raised alarm against the CBN’s unbridled policy.

Ever since he was dethroned and sued on several charges, Emefiele has remained close to the ground seeking who will bell the cat. It has been a time of trial in the life of Mr. Emefiele, as he was led to the various court sittings like the Biblical Sheep in the book of Isaiah 53, a virtuous servant is murdered but does not protest: “Like a sheep being led to the slaughter or a lamb that is silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth” His silence is praised because there was no “deceit in his mouth” (Isaiah 53:9). Several questions beg for answers from what had eventually befallen Mr. Godwin Emefiele but particularly about who is behind his ordeal.

This question is as the Federal High Court in Abuja has on the 17th of November 2023 ordered the remand of Godwin Emefiele, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to Kuje Correctional facility pending a ruling on his bail application.

Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned the former bank chief on a six-count amended charge.

Emefiele was arraigned before Justice Hamza Muazu.
Albeit Mathew Burkaa, SAN, his counsel, had moved the application for his bail but Rotimi Oyedepo, the EFCC counsel, opposed it on behalf of the Federal Government which consolidated his current remand to the Kuje Correctional Centre.

After listening to arguments, Justice Muazu said he needed a little time to study the exhibits supplied by Emefiele to support his request for bail.

He thereafter adjourned the case till November 22, 2023.

It would be recalled that Emefiele’s travail began after President Bola Tinubu suspended him on June 9, 2023, and ordered a probe of the apex bank under his watch.

President Tinubu later appointed a Special Investigator to probe CBN.

Amid this probe, the the apex bank released its audited financial statement, which showed that it was owing JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs a combined sum of $7.5 billion as of the financial year ended December 2022.

After months in the custody of the secret police, Emefiele was transferred to the EFCC, which arraigned him in court and he was granted bail.