The Coalition of National Interest Defenders has again raised the alarm over an alleged fresh plot to launch coordinated attacks and smear campaigns against the Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, and President Muhammadu Buhari-backed policies of the apex bank.
According to the group, the plot included plans to attack the CBN headquarters and stage anti-Emefiele and Buhari protests at foreign missions in Abuja, and continuation of the plot by the State Security Service (SSS) to undermine the President and the Central Bank leadership under Emefiele.
They also alleged that there were plans to fabricate another allegation to help them arrest the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and force him to resign to pave way for the appointment of an acting CBN governor despite numerous judgments from courts of competent jurisdiction against such move.
The group at a press briefing on Thursday addressed by its Convener, Barr. Tochukwu Ohazuruike, raised the alarm that despite the clear and direct orders of the High Court of the FCT, the DSS was allegedly insistent that it would arrest Emefiele.
Ohazuruike said the flagrant violation of the rule of law was very worrisome and called on all authorities to intervene and call the secret police agency to order.
“Nigeria is a democracy and as such, the rule of law must prevail at all times,” he said.
He alleged that money launderers, vote buyers, election riggers, and corrupt politicians were the sponsors of the plot to remove the CBN Governor.
“Some governors who looted the bailout funds to their states are part of those asking for Emefiele’s head,” he added.
He also alleged that a $2million basket has been mobilised to organize media war, smear campaigns, and protests beginning from January 9.
He urged the SSS to apologise to Emefiele for the trauma they have put him through and also apologise to President Buhari for opposing his monetary policies.
Also, the Coalition called for the President to authorize the Attorney General of the Federation to institute a criminal inquiry into the latest happenings even as it reiterated its call for the sack of the DG of the SSS so as not to interfere with investigations.
On the issue of the alleged looted N89 trillion stamp duty fund, the group raised some questions.
He said, “how it could be possible that the N50 charges on electronic transactions be more than the entire financial transactions in our country?
“How can they say we have N89 trillion from stamp duty of N50 charge while the entire nation’s foreign reserve is not near that amount?
“How is it possible that we can have N89 trillion while the entire assets of our nation’s banks, bank profit, and all deposits in the banks are not up to that amount?
“How can we have N89 trillion from just N50 charges when the nation’s total budget since 2016 when President Muhammadu Buhari first presented a budget date is just about N95 Trillion?
“It means that this amount could have funded all the budget of the country since this administration assumed office. Just how could that be?”
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