DSS confirms Emefiele’s arrest, says he’s under investigation

The Department of State Services (DSS) says Godwin Emefiele, the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is now in custody.

The secret police confirmed his arrest hours after saying he was “currently” not in detention.

Peter Afunanya, the DSS spokesperson, announced the development in a statement issued on Saturday.

“The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby confirms that Mr Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is now in its custody for some investigative reasons,” the statement reads.

“The public, particularly the media, is enjoined to apply utmost caution in the reportage and narratives concerning this.”

In a video seen by TheCable, the suspended CBN governor was seen alighting from a Hilux truck, and subsequently boarding a private jet alongside security operatives.

Emefiele was suspended by President Bola Tinubu on Friday evening.

His suspension was announced by Willie Bassey, director of information, office of the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF).

Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi, deputy governor, operations directorate, has taken charge of affairs at the apex bank.

Emefiele has been on the radar of the DSS since 2022 over alleged terrorism financing.

The security agency had sought an arrest warrant from a federal high court — but the application was declined on the grounds that there was no evidence to back the claim.

A federal capital territory (FCT) high court later issued a restraining order stopping the DSS from arresting Emefiele.