CSOs Protest At NASS Over 89trn Stamp Duty Controversy

Over 2000 civil society organisations, under the auspices of Coalition of Civil Society Organizations on Good Governance (CCSGG) took a protest to the National Assembly over the allegations by House of Representatives member, Muhammed Kazaure who alleged embezzlement of N89 trillion stamp duty proceeds by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

LEADERSHIP reports that following controversies trailing a claim of a missing N89.09tn allegedly siphoned from stamp duty charges, the Presidency on Tuesday said such claims were false.

It also said the entire banking sector deposits in Nigeria did not amount to half of N89tn.

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The protesters numbering over 400 wondered why Kazaure will come up with such damning allegations.

The CSOs were led by its president, Etuk Bassey, who spoke on behalf of members of the CSOs. He described Kazaure’s statement as false, claiming he is out on a mission to tarnish the image of Emefiele.

The group in their large numbers displayed different sizes and shapes of placards with inscriptions reading; “We support CBN Governor policies”, “Plans to discredit cashless policy will be resisted”, “Cashless policy a solution to poverty”, “Corrupt Nigerians are after CBN Governor, “Civil Society and youths support CBN Governor”.

Other placards read, “Cashless policy a pass mark to Buhari’s administration”, “Buhari and Emefiele carry go!”, “Security arrest Hon Kazaure now”, “N89trn stamp duty is a blackmail”.

Bassey said: “Political propaganda and as well as witch-haunting against the person and image in person of the Governor of the CBN.

“Again, this man has been lying that he is investigating the governor of the CBN and has been dropping names. He is also claiming that he met with the President, and we have so much respect for President Muhammadu Buhari, and we know that the President loves Nigerians and would not allow this to happen.

“We are saying here today that Kazaure should be arrested forthwith and be probed.

“We will not allow that to happen again, these lies are too much. We will not allow these miscreants to take over our commonwealth.”

He also accused Kazaure of playing the script of his paymasters to tarnish the image of the CBN Governor and that of the President.

He vowed that the CSOs will not allow that to happen at all as they will stop the move.

“Election is around the corner, we cannot allow them to take us for granted.

“We want to believe the actions of Hon Kazaure is perpetrated by his fellow cohorts band politicians that want to bring down the CBN Governor and as well tarnish the image of Mr President. We will not take that.”