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  • University of Ibadan names UBA GMD Alawuba as UI @75 Ambassador

    University of Ibadan names UBA GMD Alawuba as UI @75 Ambassador

    Nigeria’s premier ivory tower, University of Ibadan (UI) has appointed the Group Managing Director/CEO of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Mr. Oliver Alawuba, as an Ambassador of the university following the commemoration of its 75 years in existence.

    The conferment on Alawuba, who is himself an alumnus of the great institution, is in recognition of his sterling contribution and achievements in the banking industry and his efforts at championing the course of the university in corporate Nigeria.

    Speaking during the visit to UBA House, Marina, the varsity’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale, narrated the various feats accomplished by the university, as he noted that the celebration of UI at 75 will help galvanise interests in a participatory programme that will last a year, ending in November 2024. The programme is expected to develop the institution and give opportunities in the form of scholarships to more students.

    “As part of the celebration, the university beamed its searchlight to identify our alumni that are all over the world, whose trajectory has impacted positively on the society in both the public and private sectors and who have also contributed towards bringing prestige to the university. We have identified some of our alumni which we have designated as UI@75 Ambassadors. Some of these ambassadors are Vice President Kashim Shettima, Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum and of course Mr Oliver Alawuba,” the professor said.

    “Oliver Alawuba with over 20 years banking experience spanning private, corporate and investment banking has demonstrated the virtues in which products of the University of Ibadan are known for and we are pleased with his accomplishment. Furthermore, the university shares the Bank’s vision of Excellence, Enterprise and Execution as we look forward to a synergy between the two institutions not only in Nigeria but in Africa and across the world,” he remarked.

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    Alawuba who expressed gratitude to the school’s management following the conferment, took out time to encourage Nigerian universities to establish and source for collaboration within the private sectors. According to him, this is important as the reliance on government by the universities in Nigeria is highly insufficient and is no longer sustainable.

    “As a pan-African financial institution, with presence in 20 African countries and global presence in key financial capitals in the world, UBA would be readily available to champion a new stream of collaboration with our universities towards sustainable development. I am committed to contributing to the growth and development of UI,” he said.

    During the visit, the Chairman of UI@75 and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration of University of Ibadan, Professor Peter Olapegba, outlined the activities lined up for the event which would last a year. He also sought private sector support for the Six-Point Development Initiative of the present administration of the University.

    In his over 25 years career in the Financial services space, Alawuba has achieved major milestones and contributed to shaping the Banking landscape across Africa.

    He was at various times, CEO Designate for UBA Cote d Ivoire, CEO UBA Ghana, Regional CEO for West Africa, ED East Bank in Nigeria and later, DMD/CEO UBA Africa, providing leadership for the entire 19 Country operations of UBA across Africa. During these periods, he worked with teams to structure landmark transactions and solutions that redefined most of these markets.

    Presently as GMD/CEO for UBA Plc, he oversees the Global Operations of the bank across Nigeria, 19 other African Countries, UBA America, UBA United Kingdom, UBA France and UBA UAE.

    Under his Leadership, UBA has delivered exceptional and Industry leading financial performance as the Bank continues to support its Customers across its various markets under its Customer First philosophy.

  • Nigeria community sends SOS to Tinubu over Nigerians in Abidjan prison

    Nigeria community sends SOS to Tinubu over Nigerians in Abidjan prison

    The Nigerian community in Cote d’Ivoire led by High Chief Michael Emeka Ownuchelu has called on President Bola Tinubu to rescue some Nigerians in Abidjan prison facilities in Cote d’Ivoire.

    In a statement signed on behalf of the community by its PRO, Hon. Davidson Ogbu Tabel said the president’s intervention became inevitable in view of the deplorable conditions of the inmates in Abidjan prisons. 

    In the statement which reads in part, Tabel said, “Many are being detained for wrong offenses and we understand that some are already dying in prison custody. As a Nigerian community in Côte d’Ivoire, we have been trying our best day and night to ensure we help our brothers but we believe our government can make it faster with our host country.

    “Not many people in prison are criminals, some got there wrongly, while some are overdue for release because of some clauses which can only be from the government. We believe in the government of President Bola Ahmed and we are hoping that the government will attend to this issue in Côte d’Ivoire.”

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    Tabel further revealed that the Nigerian community is stabilised under the leadership of High Chief Micheal and has vowed to deal with issues surrounding Nigerians in the country.

    “We are doing our best in the Nigerian community to maintain law and order among our brothers and sisters, we respect the laws of the host country and as a matter of fact, the president has ensured he treats issues surrounding Nigerians accordingly.

    “The president general of the Nigerian community has repatriated over 600 girls since he assumed office in 2021. Most Nigerians are being trafficked to this country, and this is not good for our image here. When the president assumed office in 2021, he made a vow that he was going to address the issues that Nigerians are facing.”

    “The government of High Chief Michael Emeka Ownuchelu also achieved the introduction of the Biometric Identification system called (Carte Consulaire Biométrique) valid ID cards issued to Nigerians living in Côte d’Ivoire. All these were done in support of the Nigerian Embassy.”

    He advised the Nigerian government to include the Diaspora Fund in the subsequent budget in Nigeria.

    “The fact remains that many of these representatives in Nigerian communities across Africa are spending their money to empower Nigerians in various countries. It is something the federal government should look at. They have been assisting the growth of Nigeria without means of funding. For example, many times President Michael Emeka had used his money to deport young girls back home against trafficking, sex prostitution, rape and others. He provides them accommodation, feeding and lots more.”

    The Nigerian community is accepted and recognized by the Côté Ivoire government.

  • Group appeals to Wike, Fubara to uphold Tinubu’s peace terms

    Group appeals to Wike, Fubara to uphold Tinubu’s peace terms

    A group under the aegis of Concerned Citizens of Rivers State (CC23) has appealed to Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, as well as their supporters, to uphold and abide by the terms of the peace deal brokered by President Bola Tinubu.

    The appeal which was contained in a statement made available to reporters in Warri, Delta state, was titled, ‘No Sacrifice Is Too Much For Peace.’

    In the statement which reads in part, CC23 stated, “We urge both parties to conscientiously uphold and abide by the terms of the peace deal.

    “We urge them to leverage Mr. President’s intervention, put aside their differences, and bury the hatchet, to advance the peace, security, progress, and development of our dear Rivers State,” the group pleaded.

    It further urged all political actors, third parties, and interest groups within and outside Rivers State, to stop all narratives capable of impairing the ongoing peace process in the state.

    In the statement signed jointly by Chief Victor Oleh, Hon. Goodluck Braide, Dr. Ken Robinson, Chief Barr. Obo Osaro, Chief Lucky Ekeji (PhD), Comrade Chile Elechi, Hon. Chaka Ezekiel, and Chief Ikashi Awali, Innocent Iroegbu, Mrs. Nancy Bob Manuel, Comrade Chioma Atuzie, Sir Innocent Abiacks, Princess Jane Peters, Hon Silver Onyeche, Prof. Prince Ordu (Diaspora) and Christopher Nwachukwu, commended President Tinubu for his intervention.

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    Besides, they also applauded Fubara and Wike for assenting to the peace initiative which, it noted, is beginning to yield some results.

    “We have carefully appraised the resolutions reached at the mediatory meeting of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and the Honourable Minister of the FCT and immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike, and others; the outcome is a win-win situation; no victor, no vanquished!

    “We salute the nationalistic bearing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his political sagacity, wisdom, and deep-rooted love for the nation, and our democracy. Certainly, Daniel came to judgment!

    “We equally commend the Honorable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara for submitting themselves to Mr. President’s mediation.

    “We urge both parties to conscientiously uphold and abide by the terms of the peace deal.

    “We urge them to leverage Mr. President’s intervention, put aside their differences, and bury the hatchet, to advance the peace, security, progress, and development of our dear Rivers State.

    “Gladly, steps indicative of commitment to the process have already been taken by both sides,” parts of the statement read.

    Pleading with all aggrieved stakeholders, the group said Governor Fubara “should be allowed to harmoniously work with the Rivers State House of Assembly and his cabinet, to foster the development of the state, and effectively provide the dividends of democracy to Rivers people.

    “We are conscious of the fact that if the situation precipitates a full-blown crisis, it will be the people of Rivers State who will bear the brunt of the consequences.

    “We, therefore, call on the good people of Rivers State, irrespective of their inclinations, especially, the youths, to shun all actions, assertions, and j that would reignite the settling crisis,” the statement added.

  • SON intensifies product testing to combat substandard goods

    SON intensifies product testing to combat substandard goods

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has reaffirmed commitment to intensifying its fight against fake and substandard goods in the country.

    The Director General of SON, Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, gave this assurance when he appeared during a joint National Assembly Committee on Industry as part of the 2023 budget performance and 2024 budget proposal defence in Abuja, recently.

    While pledging his unflinching commitment to serving the nation to the best of his ability, the SON boss said the organisation was making aggressive efforts to rid the nation of substandard products, stressing that the agency has intensified its products testing capabilities to ensure that locally-manufactured goods can compete with others products at the export market.

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    According to him, the best way to surge the naira against other foreign currencies is to increase exports made in Nigeria.

    Responding, the Chairman of the Senate Committee for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator Ade Fadahunsi, commended the SON’s efforts on its drive to support the growth of the micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) across the country.

    Besides, the Committee commended the DG for his drive against substandard products, urging local manufacturers to leverage SON’s laboratories across the nation to get their products tested and certified.

    The Committee Chairman stressed the need for the SON helmsman to also prioritise the welfare of Staff, which enhances commitment to duties.

    Present at the Budget Performance and Proposal of 2023 and 2024 as part of the SON delegation were senior management and staff.

  • Deputy Speaker mobilises Southeast govs, monarchs, clerics for peace initiative

    Deputy Speaker mobilises Southeast govs, monarchs, clerics for peace initiative

    Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu said on Saturday that the Peace in the South East Project (PISE-P) will dissuade the militarisation of the southeast zone while ultimately restoring peace to the region which has suffered high insecurity in the last couple of years.

    He gave this hint when he paid a condolence visit to the Anambra state Governor Charles Soludo in the state.

    The lawmaker at the lower chamber also briefed the governor of the official unveiling of the new peace initiative in Bende, Abia State scheduled for Thursday, December 29, while inviting him to be part of the event.

    A statement by Kalu’s Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu quoted him as saying that Governor Soludo had made giant strides in Anambra, especially in the security sector.

    He said “Not too long ago, I accompanied the Vice President, His Excellency, Senator Kashm Shettima to Anambra. We came to inspect a factory built by Sir Emeka Offor who is working hard for Ndi Igbo. The Vice President and I agreed that the local content aspects of the factory shall be accorded the priority it deserves, even in the energy sector.

    “We also used the opportunity to see and discuss the ecological problems. Anambra is the headquarters of ecological problems in the whole world. We will not leave the challenge of developing Igboland for one person.

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    “If Anambra is developed, Igbo land is secure. We shall continue to strive, put all our efforts to develop Anambra and by extension, Igbo land. That’s why we came to identify with him and to assure him that he also has the support of the members of the National Assembly. Wherever he wants us to give our support, we will. Even now that the budget is in the works, we are talking to see where we can come in.

    “We also send our condolences to him on the passing of our father, late Pa Simeon Soludo. Yes, every death is painful but this is to an extent a celebration of life. Our prayer is to live long and be fulfilled in life like him. May God accept the soul of the departed and also be with you all.

    “Let me also use this opportunity to say that we shall gather in Bende on December 29, 2023 to unveil what we call Peace in the South East (PISE-P) so that we can pronounce an end to violence, militarization, guns and all that. Let’s adopt a non-kinetic means of resolving our challenges.”

    While commending the Deputy Speaker for the peace initiative, Soludo threw history weight behind the project which canvasses for a non-kinetic means of resolving the security challenges in the region.

    Soludo who lauded the project championed by the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu described the top federal lawmaker as a worthy son of Ndi Igbo.

    The governor who said that Kalu was passionate about the development of Igboland and Nigeria in general stressed that his contributions were well noted.

    He said: “Your Excellency, you are welcome to Isuofia. Thanks for coming to be with us. Indeed, you are a true son of Igbo land. You are so passionate about the development of Igbo land and Nigeria at large. You are our worthy son and we note that. We are proud of you.

    “I have heard all that you said about the budget and the PISE-P and unity in Igbo land. I say amen to all. Anambra to Bende in Abia is not all that far, so to speak. We will look at all that you have said. Please, send my regards to the speaker. From what we are hearing, you both are doing well. Thanks for coming.”

  • Ebonyi Govt directs release of white-paper on communal conflicts

    Ebonyi Govt directs release of white-paper on communal conflicts

    The Ebonyi State Government has directed that white-papers of reports on the Ezza/Ezza Effium and Isinkwo/Abaomege communal conflicts be released immediately.

    The affected communities in Ohaukwu and Onicha Local Government Areas of Ebonyi had been engaged in fratricidal communal conflicts.

    The conflicts had resulted in loss of several lives and property as efforts made to quell them in the past failed.

    The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Jude Okpor, made the disclosure on the white papers while addressing newsmen on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting held on December 22.

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    Okpor said that the state governor had inaugurated an implementation committee to ensure that the recommendations of committees set up on the conflicts are fully implemented.

    “The implementation committee is headed by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Ben Odoh,” he said.

    He noted that the Secretary of the Committee on the Ezza/Ezza Effium communal conflict, Rev. Fr Charlse Otu, thanked the government for the opportunity to serve the state in such capacity.

    “The secretary expressed optimism that the implementation of its recommendations would provide permanent solutions to the conflict.

    “The Secretary of the Committee on the Isinkwo/Abaomege conflict, Prof. Wilberforce Oti, said that the committee followed its terms of reference strictly in the discharge of the assignment.

    “He submitted that they consulted archival materials, prominent elders and took submissions from members of the warring communities,” the commissioner said.

  • Stop the killing now, Anambra community leaders beg Soludo

    Stop the killing now, Anambra community leaders beg Soludo

    The leaders of Enugwu-Nanka in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra state are restless following the number of killings in their community.

    As a result, they have sent a Save our Souls message to the state Governor Chukwuma Soludo to come to the aid of the community to avoid a total breakdown of law and order.

    In a letter addressed to the governor by the leadership of Enugwu Nanka village and signed by Joe Omehaa as chairman and Peter Godson Oforkansi as secretary, the village union said there had been division in Nanka as some powerful indigenes were allegedly seeking to silence the majority for standing by truth.

    The leaders cited several incidents of killings and attempted assassinations in the community, adding that the new norm was to stop police investigation after killing.

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    In the letter which reads in part, they said, “Your Excellency Sir, one of the killings happened in 2021. A boy of 25 years, Mr. Toochukwu Onyemelukwe was murdered in Enugwu Nanka village square, along the main road at the popular Ukwumango Nwanyi Uzo village square – an open public place.

    “This was simply because the young boy was from the opposing faction of the village union, the Enugwu Nanka Village Development Union, against the faction (ODU) being controlled by some powerful persons.

    “Mr. Martin Okeke, who reported the murder of Mr. Toochukwu Onyemelukwe to the Police, has met many assassination attempts, just because he reported to the Police about that crime.

    “Mr. Martin Okeke’s life has been continuously threatened by the suspected culprits since they discovered he reported the murder to the police.

    “Okeke has had assassination attempts over his life, he has not been sleeping in his house and his wife is in exile for fear of being killed.”

    The group, therefore, called on Soludo to order for an investigation into the numerous killings of innocent souls in Nanka, and also to investigate reasons for having many factions of the town union, which according to them, had resulted in the abnormalities, sacrileges and abominations in Nanka.

    Speaking about the factions, the group said: “Both Nanka Town Union and villagers are into factions and frictions due to high handedness and kill-and-cover-up activities in Nanka.

    “For some period of time now Your Excellency, you might have heard of the number of murders of some innocent souls in Nanka, murder which some of the killings were perpetrated by unknown killers; but the ones that their killers are known for are protected from Police investigation by the leaders of the influential group.

    “We are thinking these factions may result to a total collapse of our dear town if not checked; also, we seek that the Police be allowed to make proper investigations of crimes in Nanka,” the leaders said.

  • Foundation unveils N1b international research centre

    Foundation unveils N1b international research centre

    In a bid to promote qualitative research and management studies across Africa, the Lagos Business School, in partnership with the GAMSU Foundation unveiled the Gamaliel and Susan International Management Research Centre.

    The state of the art facility, valued at over N1billion was funded by the GAMSU Foundation, alongside other donors in a collaborative effort geared towards improving the standard of education in the country.

    In his remarks, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin said the centre represents the impact the late Gamaliel Onosode had on management.

    Sanwo-Olu said, “Today’s theme, the role of research in shaping Africa’s landscape speaks to the transformative power that thoughtful and rigorous research can have on a people, particularly, on our continent.

    “The Lagos Business School, through this state-of-the-art research centre, will expand its commitment to contributing significantly to the intellectual work that will shape the future of Africa and impact our developmental strides.”

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    Noting that research is the bedrock upon which development is built, Sanwo-Olu expressed optimism that the centre represents another giant leap to advancing knowledge that is uniquely relevant.

    According to him, through research, we can chart a brighter course for the development of Lagos State and Nigeria by extension.

    He added, “Research illuminates new pathways, challenges existing paradigms and provides the insights needed to address the complex challenges facing our society. In the context of management, research becomes a compass guiding businesses, policymakers and institutions towards sustainable and impactful decisions.”

    In his welcome address, the Dean of the Lagos Business School, Prof Chris Ogbeche thanked the foundation for their munificence in funding the erection of the building which cost well over N1bn to construct.

    He said the centre would become a vibrant hub for cutting edge research which will enable the institution to positively impact the society.

    Ogbeche said, “This project was conceived to provide the platform for research and management education that will have a significant impact in our society. If you check very well – leadership, ethics, sustainability, these are values that Gamaliel Onosode stood for in his lifetime.

    “So, he must be pleased that we are doing this today, because the various centres that are housed in this magnificent building will do a lot in ensuring that we have a better society.”

    On his part, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the GAMSU Foundation, Moyo Ajekigbe described the commissioning of the project as a thing of immense pride.

    According to him, the choice of citing the project at Lagos Business School was premised on the strength of the brand and its passion for excellence.

    He said, “Mr Onosode had a passion for quality education. He believed that his contributions to the development of education in Nigeria should be continuous and should outlive him. The International Management Research Centre that we are commissioning today is testament to that.”

    The Chief Executive Officer of Financial Derivatives, Bismarck Rewane delivered a keynote address on the theme ‘The Role of Research in Shaping Africa’s Management Landscape.’

  • Land grabbing: Enugu community tasks IGP to wade in

    Land grabbing: Enugu community tasks IGP to wade in

    The people of Obollo town in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State have called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to wade in to stop a looming communal clash that is capable of consuming several lives if left unchecked in the area.

    The people also accused a former governor of the state of using his allies and some high ranking police officers to instigate a crisis in the community in order to grab communal land.

    The people, who also wrote a plea for urgent intervention, titled “Grand high level conspiracy aimed at creating communal war and incarcerating Obollo people on charges of terrorism” and addressed to the Inspector General of Police, said some compromised policemen had already perfected plans to arrest the people of the village and tagging them terrorists and IPOB members in order to keep them away for a long time by the time the imminent crisis erupts.

    Spokesman of the community, Prince Matthew Agu, who spoke to newsmen at a press conference in Enugu at the weekend, disclosed that the ex-governor, as a sitting governor, had solicited for a large expanse of land, measuring over 70 acres, for the establishment of a dry sea port in Obollo-Afor, a request that was granted with the understanding that it was for public good.

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    “But as the years rolled by, we discovered that he had tricked us into donating the land. It was clear that he was planning to grab the property for his personal use. We kicked against it because that land is not for anybody’s personal use,” Agu said.

    He added that seeing that he could not achieve his plan of taking the land for himself, through the dry sea port story, the former governor resorted to engineering one of the clans in the community to claim ownership of the property, against an existing court order indicating that the land belongs to the entire Oha Obollo and not one particular clan.

    Agu also narrated several attempts made by the ex-governor through a serving police DIG who hails from the same local government area to frustrate efforts to resolve the issue legally, alleging that the police in the state had been compromised.

    “Inspector General, this is a high-level conspiracy against Obollo people to incriminate and cramp my people to jail in their own judgment. Recall that in my petition dated August 21, 2023, I told you about how a DIG, then a CP, had made himself available to make sure that my people of Obollo were dealt with criminally.

    “Same with a former governor of the state who wanted this property for official purposes, but when the property was made available to him for that very purpose, he reneged and wanted to personalise our property using other guises.

    “He has used his appointees and these he aided in the police force together with the judiciary to make sure that my people are destroyed to the extent that the police in Enugu turn a blind eye to whatever the judgement debtors do but flames to high heaven at the slightest opportunity to incriminate my people.

    “In 2018, I, the leader of the community, was clamped to the prison yard, where I spent 8 days, and when the DPP wrote their report that I am the rightful owner of the property and brought me out of the prison yard, the then governor insisted that the then Attorney General must resign. This was to be, but for the intervention of late Justice C.C. Nweze of the Supreme Court.

    “I strongly suspect that the officer in charge (OC) Legal has been compromised to ensure that the judgement debtors are in occupation while the judgement creditors go on a wild goose chase of seeking due process.”

    The people vowed that they would use all legal means available to them to resist the forceful takeover of their land for personal use, regretting that the instigators of the crisis were only looking for mayhem in the town.

    He therefore pleaded with the IGP to intervene so as not to allow the anger of members of the community to snowball into a full-blown crisis that could consume many lives and property, adding that the police boss should investigate the matter and return the judgement creditors back to their property.

  • Bailed Emefiele faces fresh hurdles from security agencies

    Bailed Emefiele faces fresh hurdles from security agencies

    The immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, has rejoined his family after perfecting his bail condition.

    The authorities of the Nigeria Correctional Centre, Kuje, confirmed yesterday that Emefiele was let home a little after 2pm on Friday.

    The Federal Capital Territory High Court Abuja, had granted him bail with two sureties to the tune  of N300m each on November 22.

    He had been slammed with a six count charge of  procurement fraud.

    In granting the bail,Justice Hamza Muazu had ordered Emefiele to be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre until he could meet the  bail conditions.

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    The Nation gathered yesterday that despite Emefiele’s release, security agencies are keeping a close watch on him to ensure that he does not sneak out of the country in view of the alleged weighty allegations against him.

    Soon after his suspension from office on June 9 and his subsequent arrest the following day by the Department of State Services (DSS),the former CBN governor was first arraigned for being in illegal possession of arms.

    But the charge was later withdrawn only for the authorities to file a fresh six-count charge against him.

    The Nation had earlier reported that fresh charges may be filed against Emefiele by the Federal Government on the strength of the recommendations of the Special Investigator on the CBN, Mr Jim Obaze.

    Likely to be charged with him are a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and 12 top officials of the bank  in connection with an alleged illegal payment of $6.23milion to yet to be identified people during his tenure.

     Two suspects have been arrested in connection with what was described by the Special Investigator as “forgery, concealment, conspiracy and fraud”.

    The alleged withdrawal of the cash was committed at the Abuja branch of the CBN.