The President, Bola Tinubu, has appointed a special investigator to probe the Central Bank of Nigeria.
In a letter dated July 28, 2023, sighted by The PUNCH, the president named the Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, Jim Obazee, as the special investigator.
The President asked the Special Investigator to investigate CBN and key Government Business Entities, adding that the investigator would report directly to the President’s office.
The letter read, “In accordance with the fundamental objective set forth in Section 15(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), this administration is, today, continuing the fight against corruption by appointing you as a Special Investigator, to investigate the CBN and Related Entities. This appointment shall be with immediate effect and you are to report directly to my office.
“The full terms of your engagement as Special Investigator shall be communicated to you in due course but, require that you immediately take steps to ensure the strengthening and probity of key Government Business Entities, further block leakages in the CBN and related GBEs and provide a comprehensive report on public wealth currently in the hands of corrupt individuals and establishments (whether private or public).
“You are to investigate the CBN and related entities using a suitably experienced, competent and capable team and work with relevant security and anti-corruption agencies to deliver on this assignment. I shall expect a weekly briefing on the progress being made.”
The president also sent a copy of his directive suspending Godwin Emefiele as Governor of the CBN on June 9, 2023.
Emefiele was arraigned in court last week and granted bail, but the Department of State Services rearrested him.