Terrorism Financing: Group Urges Due Process In Emefiele’s Probe

A group, Patriots Network Nigeria and Citizens Stability Forum (CSF) has called on the concerned authorities and the general public to allow rule of law to take its course in the probe of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele over alleged financial misconduct and terrorism financing.

The call was contained in a statement signed by the lead convener of the forum, Comrade Mukhtar Lawal which he read to newsmen in Dutse, the capital of Jigawa State.

The group challenged the people who are making efforts to interfere in the matter to avoid doing so in the interest of peace and progress of the country.

“Nobody is immune, sacrosanctity or above the law in the eye of justice, therefore if there is an allegation or questions need to be answered by the CBN governor the authority concerned should be allowed to work in accordance with the constitution, “ he said.

Lawal said the forum decided to organise the press conference looking at how the move to arrest and investigate CBN governor is taking another dimension just because of the personal interest of few people.

“It is known that the DSS invited CBN governor over accusations of economic and financial crimes of national security dimension and have even filed an ex-parte motion at the high court in Abuja for his arrest over these accusations.

“However, while the sitting judge declined the ex-parte motion filed, he mentioned that if the DSS believes that the evidence available to it so far is sufficient, then it has the jurisdiction to arrest and detain the applicant, even without the order of the court.

“While all this is ongoing, Mr Emefiele was alerted of the plans by DSS to arrest him and hurriedly left the country to avoid arrest, which only indicates his unwillingness to answer and address the accusation surrounding him.

“What is preventing Emefiele from allowing the investigation by DSS? Why are powerful people who are known to be selfish and corrupt supporting Emefiele and shielding him away from the investigation?

“We cannot have a country where only the poor and powerless are subjected to the rule of law whereas those in power and their cohorts are not, this trend will not augur well to the future of the nation,” the statement said.