Festus Ogun, an attorney for human rights, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately sack Godwin Emefiele, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
In response to a report that Emefiele’s supporters have purchased All Progressives Congress Expression of Interest and Nomination forms for the 2023 presidential election, the attorney made the call.
On Friday, a coalition consisting of the Rice Farmers Association, the Emefiele Support Group, and the Friends of Godwin reportedly obtained the forms on his behalf.
Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has denied interest in the presidency but has yet to comment on the collection of forms.
Ogun expressed fear that the treasury of Nigeria is no longer safe in the hands of Emefiele.
He said, “CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has picked the APC N100m presidential nomination and expression of interest form. Clearly, this is illegal, morally reprehensible and weakens whatever is left of our institutions.
“Section 9 of the CBN Act, 2007 provides that ‘the governor and the deputy governors shall devote the whole of their time to the service of the bank, and while holding office, shall not engage in any full or part-time employment or vocation, whether remunerated or not’.
“Politics is a vocation and the CBN Governor is not allowed by law to engage in partisan politics. It is unthinkable that Emefiele, despite his embarrassing failures, will disregard law and morality to vie for President under the ruling APC. Our national vault is no longer safe.
“Mr. Godwin Emefelie must immediately resign his position as CBN Governor to save our country from this unthinkable absurdity. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must immediately commence thorough investigation into Emefiele’s period in office.
“Finally, I call on President Muhammadu Buhari to invoke his statutory powers under Section 11(2) of the CBN Act to sack Emefiele. The National Assembly and civil society organizations are equally enjoined to intervene in this peculiar institutional desecration. All is not well.”