The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, and the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, were recently suspended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to enable unhindered investigations into allegations of abuse of office levelled against them. PAUL OKAH in this report seeks citizens ’views on the president’s action.
The fight against corruption has been a major concern for Nigerians as the nation is always viewed with disdain by the international community, especially as efforts by previous administrations appear not to be yielding the desired results.
Therefore, when President Bola Tinubu suspended the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, and the EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, in order for the duo not to jeopardise investigations into allegations of abuse of office levelled against them, the news elicited commendations by the majority of the citizens.
However, apart from Emefiele and Bawa, other prominent Nigerians are also being investigated, especially former ministers in the immediate past administration, including former Attorney General and minister of Justice Abubakar Malami; former Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen; former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika; former Minister of Power, Sale Mamman; former Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, among others.
‘Tinubu means business’
Speaking with this reporter, a public affairs analyst, Alhaji Yakubu Bello, said that the suspension of the duo is a testament to the fact that Tinubu means business in the determination to rid the country of corruption, especially by investigating weighty allegations against political officers.
He said: “President Tinubu has done something striking in the history of Nigeria. On 10th June, President Tinubu suspended Emefiele from office, following the ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy. A few days later, on June 14, Tinubu indefinitely suspended Bawa, from office, to allow for a thorough investigation into his conduct while in office following weighty allegations of abuse of office against him.
“What that tells you is that the president is not ready to turn a blind eye to allegations against officers in public office, no matter whose ox is gored. No one is above the law as long as the president is concerned. Where Nigerians should get an inkling into the policy direction of the president is the pronouncement of fuel subsidy removal, which was feared by past administrations. He has retired corrupt officials milking the nation dry through fuel subsidy and is still going strong.
“No one should regard it as witch-hunting because the allegations against Emefiele and Bawa are very strong. In fact, people are not likely to forget the naira scarcity issues that were caused by Emefiele, who even regarded himself as a god and untouchable, whereas Nigerians were suffering and dying because of his thoughtless policies. Bawa has also been accused of selling assets recovered from corrupt politicians, so the duo should have their days in court. My happiness is that Tinubu has shown that he is not going to shy away from making difficult decisions and that is what we need at this present time in our country.”
‘There’re others’
Also speaking with our reporter, an ICT consultant, Mrs. Josephine Gbenga, said that Tinubu is making a bold statement in his anti-corruption strides by suspending both Bawa and Emefiele, but advised the president to thoroughly investigate his appointees.
She said: “The anti-corruption fight must not be narrowed down to just Bawa and Emefiele. If you can recall, other past governors and ministers have been invited by the EFCC. For instance, former Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom was on Tuesday, was invited and grilled by the EFCC for over 10 hours. It is just about EFCC doing their job and not necessarily about President BAT witch-hunting anyone.
“We have been ridiculed as a nation with regards to our anti-corruption campaign and it’s high time we took things seriously. I am glad that the president has made a clear statement. Of a truth, Emefiele soiled his hand big time and the allegations against him cannot just be wished away, ditto Bawa. For someone that is in charge of prosecuting corrupt officials, Bawa is not supposed to have question marks about his integrity. Perhaps he was not thoroughly investigated before his appointment by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Nevertheless, whether as a governor, minister or any other public office holder, the president must not leave any stone unturned in the fight against corruption. Even those he has been appointing and yet to appoint must be thoroughly investigated in order not to repeat the mistakes made by his predecessor. When the former president assumed office, he said he would fight corruption to a standstill, but his appointees obviously had other ideas. So, Tinubu should make double sure he appoints those he can vouch for. That way, he will not give room for Nigerians to criticize him unduly. In a nutshell, the president is on the right track and we hope he solves the problems bedeviling the nation.”
The courts
Meanwhile, on June 20, after listening to submissions made by parties in the matter, Justice Hamza Muazu of the FCT High court fixed the ruling in the enforcement of a fundamental rights suit filed by the embattled CBN boss over his detention by the DSS.
In his submission, the counsel to Emefiele, Joseph Daudu, argued that contrary to the preliminary objection raised against the originating summon on notice by the respondents, the court has the jurisdiction to entertain the matter, saying the offences listed against Emefiele are state offences that could be entertained by the FCT High Court.
On his part, the counsel to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Tijjani Ghazali, informed the court that the first respondent is challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case brought before it by the applicant. Hesaid Emefiele’s arrest and detention by the Department of State Services is an administrative decision of an arm of the executive.
He said that jurisdiction is determined by the reliefs sought by an applicant, urging the court to dismiss the application, and that the allegation of unlawful detention is unfounded as the embattled CBN governor is being detained on the order of an FCT Chief Magistrate Court.
Kudos to the president
Following the prosecution of Emefiele, Bawa and other achievements within few days in office, the G36 Bola Ahmed Tinubu Renewed Hope Support Group Council on Tuesday said if past presidents have already shown leadership courage from first days in office like President Tinubu, the nation would have moved forward.
At a news conference, the convener of the group, Dr. Samson Bilesanmi, after the inaugural National Council Meeting, said most Nigerians could now testify of Tinubu’s readiness for governance.
He said: “All eyes have seen the courage of Tinubu and his readiness to govern. He has done wonderfully well in the last 23 days. He has acted like a ready-for-combat soldier. He came in well-prepared.
“If other past Nigerian leaders had acted like Tinubu has led us in the last 23 days, Nigeria would have been better. Tinubu has been acting courageously well to put the nation on a path of sustainable growth.
“The citizens have been seeing a tremendous change in our country. The renewed hope he promised is really happening in the country from the removal of oil subsidies, free loans for our students in school and so many things the government has done within a few days.”
