The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Thursday in Abuja updated President Muhammadu Buhari on the activities of the bank.
The CBN governor, who briefed the president, had earlier on Thursday morning attended a meeting between the president and the visiting Director General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development, Dr Sid Ould Tah, at the State House, Abuja.
Emefiele’s visit to the Presidential Villa was the first since he resumed work at the CBN after his leave on Jan. 12, 2022.
It was speculated that the CBN governor travelled out of the country amidst fears he would be apprehended by operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) over several allegations against him, including terrorism financing.
However, the DSS dismissed such allegations, including online reports that its operatives on Monday invaded the headquarters of the CBN and took over the office of the governor of the apex bank.
It gathered that Emefiele, who did not speak to journalists after the closed door meeting with the president, briefed the president on the activities of the CBN since the introduction of the redesigned naira notes of two, five and one thousand denominations.
The CBN governor is believed to have presidential backing on the Naira redesign and withdrawal limit policy introduced by the apex bank in December, 2022.
Emefiele had allegedly left the country following the investigation of several allegations against him bordering on terrorism financing and corruption.
There had been suggestions that the recent travails of Emefielemight be political given the likely impact the redesign of the naira and revised cash withdrawal limits may have on politicians and vote buying in the 2023 general elections.
Recall that earlier in December, there had been reports of a huge protest of people numbering over 200 who stormed a Federal High Court in Abuja following a reported suit secretly filed by the DSS, accusing the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, of terrorism financing and other crimes.
The group of civil society organizations had raised alarm over an alleged plot to frame Emefiele for terrorism and remove him from office.
The DSS had sought a court order to arrest Emefiele. But the request was rejected by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
Also, on October 20, 2022, Justice Inyang Ekwo sitting in the Federal High Court in Abuja summoned Emefiele over the $53m judgment debt arising from the Paris Club refund.
The court ordered him to appear on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, as the hearing date.
However, Emefiele filed an appeal against the Federal High Court ruling saying that Justice Ekwo erred in law and occasioned a miscarriage of justice when he made an order compelling his attendance in court for the $53 million deb
