Coalition raises alarm of sponsored protest against Buhari, Emefiele

The Coalition of National Interest Defenders has again raised alarm over fresh plot to launch coordinated attack and smear campaigns against the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele and President Muhammadu Buhari backed CBN policies by some groups.

With plan to fabricate another allegation to help them arrest the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele,  force him to resign to pave way for appointment of a DSS stooge as Acting CBN Governor despite numerous judgments from courts of competent jurisdiction.

The group at its press briefing Thursday morning by the Convener, Barr. Tochukwu Ohazuruike raised the alarm that despite the clear and direct orders of the High court of the FCT, the service was insistent that it would arrest Emefiele.

Ohazuruike said the flagrant violation of the rule of law was very worrisome and called on all authorities to intervene and call the agency to order.

“Nigeria is a democracy and as such, the rule of law must prevail at all times” he said.

On the issue of the alleged looted N89 trillion stamp duty fund, the group asked series of questions, how it could be possible that N50 charge on electronic transactions be more than the entire financial transactions in our country? How can they say we have N89 trillion from stamp duty of N50 charge while the entire nation’s foreign reserve is not near that amount? How is it possible that we can have N89 trillion while the entire assets of our nation’s banks, bank profit and all deposit in the banks is not up to that amount? How can we have N89 trillion from just N50 charges when the nation’s total budget since 2016 that President Muhammadu Buhari first presented a budget till date is just about N95 Trillion? It means that this amount could have funded all the budget of the country since this administration assumed office. Just how could that be?”

They alleged that money launderers, vote buyers, election riggers and corrupt politicians are the sponsors of the plot to remove the CBN Governor. “Some Governors who looted the bailout funds to their states from whom the CBN recovered huge amounts including a Governor from whom the CBN recovered N20 Billion are part of those asking for Emefiele’s head.”

It also alleged that a $2 Million basket has been mobilized to organize media smear campaigns, protests. It alleged that hurriedly arranged groups such as Transparency Africa, League of Professionals for Good Governance and Accountability and an illegal faction of the National Youth Council of Nigeria have been mobilized to carry out these protests beginning from the 9th of January.

They urged the SSS to apologize to Mr. Godwin Emefiele for the trauma they have put him through, apologize to President Muhammadu Buhari for opposing his policies and show support. Also, the coalition called for the President to authorize the Attorney General of the Federation to institute a criminal inquiry into the latest happenings and reiterated its call for the sack of the DG of the SSS so as not to interfere with investigations.