A special investigator on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Jim Obaze, has submitted a final report to President Bola Tinubu, exposing alleged massive corruption under the leadership of Godwin Emefiele, News About Nigeria reports.
The report alleged that Emefiele and the CBN’s management team made a payment of $6.23 million from the apex bank’s vault in a single day last February.
Emefiele, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and 12 top officials of the CBN may face trial in connection with the alleged payment.
Two suspects have already been detained on suspicion of ‘forgery, concealment, conspiracy, and fraud’, and the Special Investigator advises that the CBN’s directors, deputy directors, assistant directors, and branch controllers be placed on trial.
According to the investigative document, the alleged withdrawal of $6.23 million was captured on CCTV at the Abuja branch of the CBN.
The report outlines a series of letters, including a supposed Presidential Directive on Foreign Election Observer Missions, leading to the approval and subsequent payment of the funds.
In a written statement, an official acknowledged working with others to steal the $6.23 million from the CBN’s vault.
The investigator notes that officers who held positions during the alleged fraudulent withdrawal appear to have concealed something.
Obaze also shared details regarding the alleged 2019 acquisition of a second-generation bank by Emefiele and a deceased businessman.
The investigator labelled Emefiele as a ‘mysterious shareholder’ who gave the entities that bought the bank interest-free long-term loans without a set payback plan.
The entities claimed to be based in Dubai but have no actual presence there.
Obaze disclosed that Emefiele used proxies to set up the main entity that acquired the bank.
The investigator’s team completed the investigation on the acquisition, holding meetings with relevant parties, except for an expatriate said to be hospitalised in Switzerland.
The storyline of the acquisition involved seeking the CBN’s no-objection to the proposed consolidation, acquisition of 91.5% of the bank’s issued shares, a Mandatory Tender Offer for remaining shares, buyout of shares not voluntarily sold, and finally, a merger with the bank as the surviving entity.
