The Agbor Stakeholders Forum (ASF) has strongly condemned the ongoing prosecution of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, describing it as the “most egregious political witch-hunt in Nigerian history.”

In a statement issued by Kanene Kachikwu, the ASF stated that Emefiele has endured “humiliation and incarceration” for months without being charged with any credible offense. They accused the Bola Tinubu administration of orchestrating a “surreptitious” audit of CBN’s forex transactions during Emefiele’s tenure by a “world-renowned accounting firm.”

The group alleges that despite previous investigations failing to establish any wrongdoing, Emefiele is now facing “fresh charges” based on “unsubstantiated” findings by the accounting firm.

The ASF recounted Emefiele’s detention by the Department of State Service (DSS) in June 2023 on allegations of terrorism financing, which were later dropped. They also highlighted the involvement of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in investigating Emefiele but failing to find evidence of wrongdoing.

The statement asserts that Emefiele was appointed as CBN Governor in 2014 due to his exceptional qualifications, not for personal gain. They credit him with mobilizing funds for infrastructure development, including the recently launched Lagos Metro railway system.

The ASF believes that the prosecution of Emefiele is politically motivated and designed to discredit him. They demand that he be released and allowed to return home.

The group concludes by emphasizing that Emefiele’s CBN was instrumental in supporting the Buhari administration’s economic policies and fostering productivity across various sectors. They condemn the continued persecution of the former CBN Governor and call for an end to the “vindictive vendetta” against him. CONTINUE READING