Emefiele not currently in our custody, says DSS

The Department of State Services (DSS) says Godwin Emefiele, the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is not in its custody.

Following the announcement of Emefiele’s suspension, there were reports that he was arrested by operatives of the secret police.

Reacting in a terse statement posted on Twitter on Saturday morning, the DSS said the suspended CBN governor is “currently” not in detention.

“Currently, Emefiele is not with the DSS,” the tweet reads.

Currently, Emefiele is not with the DSS.

— Department of State Services (DSS) (@OfficialDSSNG) June 10, 2023

The DSS however failed to elaborate on whether he was previously apprehended.

The office of the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF) announced Emefiele’s suspension on Friday.

Willie Bassey, director of information, SGF office, had said Emefiele was to transfer his responsibilities to the deputy governor, operations directorate.

Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi, the deputy governor, is expected to act as the CBN governor pending the conclusion of an investigation of Emefiele’s office.

DSS PROBE OF EMEFIELE

Since late 2022, Emefiele has been the subject of investigations by the DSS over alleged terrorism financing.

The secret police had approached a federal high court in Abuja seeking a warrant to arrest him

The court, however, declined the application on the grounds that the DSS did not provide any concrete evidence to substantiate its claims.

A federal capital territory (FCT) high court sitting in Maitama later issued an order restraining the security agency from arresting Emefiele.