Members of Agbor Stakeholders Forum (ASF) have accused the Presidency of consistent moves to “hunt down and destroy our son, Mr Godwin Emefiele” by any means possible.
ASF raised the alarm given what it described as relentless propaganda and media assault the federal government has unleashed on Mr Emefiele in the last couple of weeks.
Emefiele is currently under probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged abuse of office as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). A Presidential investigative panel headed by Jim Obazee accused Emefiele of having interests in three banks necessitating the takeover of the banks.
However, when the banks’ management were changed a few days ago, different reasons – regulatory noncompliance, corporate governance failure, disregarding the conditions under which their licences were granted, and involvement in activities that pose a threat to financial stability were given by the central bank for the takeover.
“We are worried that since the beginning of this administration, one man has been subjected to the investigation of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and a special financial investigator, Mr Jim Obazee, yet no charges against him have been able to stand in the face of the court.
As we chronicled in our first appeal, our brother has been charged with over half a dozen offences and all of them have failed in different courts,” leader of the forum Kanene Kachikwu said in a statement at the weekend.
“Our point and also our grouse, is that these probes, investigations and reports therefrom are all politically motivated attempts to ‘destroy’ our brother for his alleged role in former President Buhari’s naira redesign policy.
“We make bold to say that all these investigations will turn out for good as they have shown Emefiele as a very decent man who can still stand after investigations by the DSS, EFCC and a Special Investigator. Yet no serious offence has been brought against him.
“In the light of this, we therefore consider the pursuit of Mr Godwin Emefiele, a successful and thoroughbred banker, as a political vendetta and witch-hunt and an attempt to destroy him.
“This is Operation Destroy Emefiele. We once again call on President Tinubu to call off this charade and let an innocent man be,” he said.
