http://www.newsportng.com.ng Concered Northern Forum, (CNF) has called on the Department of State Security Services, (DSS) led by its Director General, Mallam Yusuf Magaji Bichito, to appeal the ruling of the High Court Judgement restraining the agency from arresting CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
The Spokesperson of CNF, Comrade Mohammed Abdulsalam made the call during a press conference held in Kaduna on Friday, said the CBN Governor is not above the law of Nigeria and as such the state security should be allowed to do their job without external interference.
It could be recalled that a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Garki on Thursday, issued an order restraining the State Security Service (SSS) and its agents from arresting, detaining or restricting the movement of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) governor, Godwin Emefiele, over allegations linking him with terrorism.
Justice M. A. Hassan, who issued the order while ruling on a suit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Forum for Accountability and Good Leadership (ITFAGL) said the SSS “acted wrongfully and illegally in instigating the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria against Mr. Godwin Emefile in respect of the exercise of his statutory duty relating to the issuance of monetary policies and directives in the interest of the National Security and economy”.
The northern forum while calling on the CBN boss to step aside on the ground that his character is already in question, said the DSS overtime has done a very good job especially in the area of intelligence gathering and that of the Apex bank should not be exceptional.
Northern Forum added that accusing Emefiele of spending N58.6 billion to print N2.5 billion naira notes at a time when Nigeria is having financial crisis including spiralling inflation and unemployment alone is ridiculous, adding that the earlier the CBN boss is made to face the law and answer to the allegations, the better.
He said, “sequel to the above, we therefore resolved that the DSS should ignore and immidatly appealed the federal high court injunction and go ahead with their planned arrest of Mr Emefele since it’s in the interest of National security.
“As patriots who wish to always stand on the path of righteousness, we won’t takes sides with those calling for the sack of the DSS boss but rather ask that he should be allowed to carry out his duties without interference by anybody especially when it comes to the issue of national security and the general well being of Nigerians. Those asking the DG to give details of Emefiele’s underhand dealings should know that security is a tactical issues and evidence can’t be made public so that criminals won’t be alerted and made to destroy evidence.
“Mr Godwin Emefiele should as a matter of urgency be relieved of his duties as the Governor of the apex bank (CBN), as his character and integrity is already questioned. He should be investigated accordingly and with immediate effect. His involvement into partisan politics and the spurious investments he has made even in some Nigerian banks makes him unfit to continue as CBN Governor as this contravenes the CBN Act and other extant laws. He should be made to face the charges leveled against him in a competent court of law.
“For the records, the service headed and superintended by its Director- General (DG), Mallam Yusuf Magaji Bichi has in time past thwarted several security breaches with credible intelligence gathering and sharing amongst sister security agencies.
“The DSS under his watch equally issued many advisories in the interest of Nigeria and was fore in the call for calm even when the US had issued an advisory to it’s citizens in Nigeria alleging that organized terrorist attacks will soon rock the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
“The DSS equally obtained credible intelligence and issued many warnings and security observations about an impending Prison break attempt in the Kuje Maximum Security Prison. The neglect of the intelligence and warnings led to a humiliating prison break that has been an embarrassment to the entire nation till date. To accuse a credible security outfit like DSS of falsifying it’s intelligence regarding the activities of Emefiele is unpatriotic.
“The allegations by Hon. Mohammed Gudaji Kazaure concerning the misappropriation and diversion of stamp duty funds as well as other financial crimes require in depth investigation. Financial crimes including diversion of public funds as alleged run afoul of President Buhari’s anti-corruption posture and must not be tolerated by his appointee no matter how highly placed. Emefiele can’t be sitting as a CBN Governor while these investigation continue. He needs to step aside to prevent any form of interference and undue influence.
“Is it not curious that the CBN is accused of spending 58.6 billion naira to print 2.5 billion naira notes? Something is not right and the earlier Emefiele and his co-conspirators are made to face the law and answer to these allegations the better. The cost of printing money can’t be more than the value of the money by almost 500%. Something is not right and must be unraveled. The whole idea of resigning and reprinting may have been a hoax to hoard and launder money without alerting Nigerians.
“It is our position that the CBN Governor should turn himself to the DSS for questioning, possible arrest and detention. Failure to do so should be met by a forceful arrest and detention in one of Nigeria’s maximum security prison facility. He should forthwith, stop sponsoring faceless goons against the person of the DG of DSS and the Service in general. The endless media wars and attacks can only elongate his doomsday but will definitely not save from standing trial and answering to the weighty allegations against him.” Northern forum added.
