Nigerians are asking where is the suspended Governor of Central Bank, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, arrested on Friday by the DSS.
The Department of Security arrested Mr. Emefiele shortly after President Tinubu suspended him from office.
A video footage showed the former governor arriving at an unnamed airport in a pickup truck, awaited by security men.
The media widely reported that agents of the Department of State Security (DSS) picked him up and detained him. But the agency swiftly denied this in a tweet.
“Currently, Emefiele is not with the DSS,” the the agency tweeted.
Later in the day, however, Agency spokesperson Peter Afunanya,released a statement to walk back the tweet.
“The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby confirms that Mr Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is now in its custody for some investigative reasons,” it said.
RELATED: Why DSS arrested Emefiele
It also warned the public to thread softly with comments on the case.
“The public, particularly the Media, is enjoined to apply utmost caution in the reportage and narratives concerning this.”
The statement came after a video of the arrest and plane ride went viral.
The viral video showed a non-uniformed person on the tarmac brandishing a white handcuffs while waiting for Emefiele to arrive at the airport (see here)
The officer dangled the chain from hand to handas he climbed after the governor to the plane.
He did not however put the cuffs on him before boarding the aircraft.
Reactions to the arrest
Former NBA chairman, Olisa Agbakoba, said that although the arrest was not altogether surprising, it was shocking that the DSS was he arresting agency.
“The suspension of the Governor of the CBN from office is not a surprise as his tenure was way beyond monetary policy.
“But confirmation by DSS that Governor Emefiele is in its custody comes as a shock.
“The statutory role of DSS is internal security and I shudder to think what role DSS will play in this matter?
“The rule of law says it all can the relevant agency responsible for Governor Emefiele step forward, but this excludes the DSS unless this has security implications.”
The DSS had accused the CBN governor of consorting with terrorists and specifically named him as a benefactor to IPOB.
THE EMEFIELE AFFAIR
Cardoso’s baptism of fire
In Cardoso’s baptism of fire, a presidential aide faults CBN’s policy communication, following controversy on moving some departments to Lagos.
Emefiele is not the problem
The problem with Central Bank are loopholes created to tempt the President and his Governor appointee, argues Columnist Ogbuagu Anikwe.
Building a nation is easy
In building a nation is easy, Mbanefo connects the dots in the frenzy of recent executive actions and their cost implications
Author
