The ex-Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, countered claims made by the Private Investigator, Jim Obazee, asserting that former President Muhammadu Buhari sanctioned the Naira redesign initiative. Emefiele addressed this in response to a report titled “Re; Emefiele, others stole billions, illegally kept Nigeria’s funds in foreign banks,” issued by Obazee on Sunday.

Obazee’s report contended that there was no official presidential approval for the Naira redesign program and suggested that the policy was introduced to Buhari through a former presidential aide, Sabiu Tunde, without the endorsement of the CBN board.

Emefiele contradicted these claims, stating that the presidential approval for the Naira redesign was personally presented to Obazee in the presence of senior CBN officials and members of the Investigator’s team. He further asserted that many of the allegations levied against him in Obazee’s report are untrue, misleading, and are intended to tarnish his reputation for the investigator’s own gain.

In essence, Emefiele is refuting the allegations made in the investigative report, emphasizing that there was proper presidential approval for the Naira redesign program and challenging the credibility of the claims against him as an attempt to damage his character.

He said: “After my release on bail from the correctional centre, Kuje, my attention was drawn to publications released by the Punch Newspaper and Premium Times online news platforms.

“The sources of the information published by both media houses were credited to a certain report prepared by Mr. Jim 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 to 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, former President Muhammadu Buhari has stated on a number of occasions that he authorised and approved the Naira redesign. I am therefore at a loss as to why Mr. Jim Obazee will mislead Nigerians that there was no presidential approval.”

https://thisweekng.com/emefiele-denies-allegations-presents-evidence-of-presidential-approval-for-naira-redesign/