A group, Coalition for Transparency and Economic Reforms (COTER), has raised the alarm over plot by certain elements to frustrate President Bola Tinubu’s plan to probe Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other entities.
The coalition, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, cited the hostility of CBN leadership against the Special Investigator, Jim Obazee, in attempting to stop him and his team from entering the apex bank’s premises as one of the plots to frustrate the probe.
They also claimed that the move has also sent negative signals to other entities like Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Nigeria Customs Services, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), FIRS, NIMASA, making their officials jittery.
Others, according to the coalition, frustrating the probe include new presidency Aso Rock cabal, outwitted powerful politicians that opposed the appointment of Obazee as CBN Special Investigator.
“Whereas Nigerians are rejoicing because of the political will mustered by President Tinubu to unearth the rot at the CBN, recover stolen funds and stabilize the naira and the nation’s economy, details have emerged on how some powerful vested interests are desperately working against Mr. President’s patriotic intentions.
“Chief among those allegedly sabotaging the President’s efforts are the management of CBN, suspended CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele and his foot soldiers, jealous yet selfish professionals who want to be part of the probe team, powerful Presidency officials bent on recommending the next CBN governor to Tinubu.
“Others are prominent members of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime, who fear about the backlash of the probe, as well as eminent Nigerians who benefitted from the CBN’s loot and who may be asked to cough up what they stole.
“Investigations have revealed that the Private Investigator, Obazee and members of his household are also facing death threats from faceless vested interests.
“Latest reports have equally indicated that some unscrupulous presidential aides, in connivance with the leadership of the CBN, are frustrating Obazee from seeing the President for weekly briefings on the ongoing probe as directed by the President,” the coalition claimed in the statement.
Throwing more light on the hostility of the management of the apex bank, the coalition noted: “On the day Obazee first visited the CBN to commence his investigations, he was not only barred from gaining entry into the premises by security men who claimed they were ordered “from above” not to allow him and his team in, he was also said to have been resisted by the current management of the apex bank.
“The appointment of the Acting CBN Governor, it was learnt, was influenced by the new cabal at Aso Rock, and from who he is said to have been taking instructions on the running of the apex bank,” the statement read further.
