Buhari’s indifference to DSS manhunt for Emefiele stunning – Falana
Femi Falana, a senior lawyer and human rights crusader, has expressed his concern over President Muhammadu Buhari’s indifference to the manhunt for the Central Bank of Nigeria’s governor, Godwin Emefiele.
The Department of State Security (DSS) is seeking Emefiele’s arrest for terrorism financing and corruption. But, the DSS’ bid to get a court nod for his arrest has so far met a brick wall.
In his opinion, Falana said that he is “completely flabbergasted that the President of the country has not intervened, either by calling the state security to order or to call Mr Emefiele to return to the country or be fired “
“Has the government considered the enormous implication of the effect of a wanted governor of the central bank on the economy,” Falana asked rhetorically while recalling a similar accusation against Emefiele’s successor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.
“In 2014, his (Emefiele’s) immediate predecessor, former Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, was accused of terrorism financing.
“In the same way, he (Sanusi) also travelled out of the country to attend a meeting with the governors of the central banks of West Africa in Niamey, Niger Republic.
“As soon as he landed in Lagos, he was arrested, his passport was seized,” Falana said. Sanusi sued the DSS and was awarded a N50m compensation.
“I can say without any fear of contradiction that Mr Godwin Emefiele is not in Nigeria; he hasn’t returned to the country because he has been declared wanted by the state security services,” Falana said on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
