Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has dismissed some of the allegations levelled against him by the Special Investigator probing the apex bank.

Emefiele denied opening 593 foreign accounts in the United States, China and United Kingdom.

He said contrary to insinuations he got approval from ex-President Muhammadu Buhari for the 2022 Naira redesign.

He also debunked the alleged withdrawal of $6.3 million from the CBN vault.

The Special Investigator into CBN activities, Jim Obazee, in a December 20, 2023 report to President Bola Tinubu made series of allegations from acquisition of three banks, illegal withdrawals and sundry other frauds.

While Emefiele denied many of the allegations, he was silent on the acquisition of Union Bank and Keystone Bank through proxies.

In a statement, Emefiele said: “After my release on bail from the correctional centre, Kuje, my attention was drawn to publications released by some mainstream and online news platforms.

“The sources of the information published by both media houses were credited to a certain report prepared by Mr. Obazee, who was appointed by the President as a private investigator.

“I have gone through the publications, and I say boldly that the contents of the said publications are false, misleading and calculated to disparage my person, injure my character and serve the selfish interest of the private investigator.

“Because of my present situation, I have been advised by my lawyers not to say anything in respect of the matters which have been submitted to the court for adjudication.

“However, I need to address some of the issues raised in the publication which are barefaced lies told by the investigator in order to achieve his satanic agenda.

“First, it was reported that contrary to the provision of the CBN Act 2007, there was no presidential approval for the Naira redesign.

“I wish to state unequivocally that there was indeed a presidential approval, and the said approval was handed over to the same Jim Obazee during the process of his investigation in the presence of senior CBN officials and his own investigative team.

“Moreover, the former President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) has stated on a number of occasions that he authorized and approved the Naira redesign.

“I am, therefore, at a loss as to why Mr. Obazee will mislead Nigerians that there was no presidential approval.”

Emefiele also dismissed the $6.3 million looting allegation.

He said: “The report also claimed that the sum of $6.23 million was withdrawn from the CBN vault based on a false presidential directive bearing the signature of the former President Buhari, and that of the former SGF, Mr. Boss Mustapha.

“About two weeks ago, Obazee in the company of a certain Deputy Commissioner of Police from Force CID came to Kuje to ask me questions in respect of the said document in the presence of my lawyers.

Ex-SGF Mustapha: I’m not involved in $6.3m CBN looting allegation

“I stated verbally and in writing that I have no knowledge of such directive from the former president and the former SGF.

“In fact, I told them that that was the first time I would be seeing the documents. On this, I challenge Obazee to publish the said documents and also the statements that I made to them.”

The CBN Governor also spoke on the 593 foreign accounts.

He said: “The final issue that I would like to respond to is the issue of the 593 accounts which were purportedly opened in different parts of the world.

“I state categorically that I am not involved in the opening of these accounts and I do not have knowledge of their openings.

“The fixed deposits in those foreign accounts are definitely outside my knowledge.

“However, let me state clearly, that the relevant departments of the CBN have the authority to carry out such activities in line with their lawful mandate within the CBN.

“I, therefore, join well-meaning Nigerians who have spoken on this matter and have demanded a thorough and transparent investigation of all these alleged frauds.

“Meanwhile, I have instructed my lawyers to immediately commence the legal process to clear my name from the defamatory statements contained in the report and by extension the publications.”

The Star