Alleged N500bn fraud: Blackmailers after Emefiele, says civil society

A Coalition of Civil Society Organisation, CCSO, has raised concern on the letter  by one George Uboh, over the recent audio tape recording of alleged N500billion financial misappropriation by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele.

Uboh, who heads a non-governmental organisation, NGO, Whistleblowers Network, had written a letter on the recent purported doctored audio tape released earlier by an online medium on the alleged misappropriation.

But the CCSO, in a statement jointly signed and issued on Sunday by its President, Comrade Etuk Bassey Williams and Secretary General, Abubakar Ibrahim,  said blackmailers were behind the audio and the letter, and urged the security agencies to ensure that they are brought to judgment.

They described the audio tape as the handiwork of those who were opposed to Emefiele’s reappointment as the CBN Governor and whose main aim was to tarnish his image.

“We are amazed that, someone that is been charged to court for allegedly producing wrong information about same person has claimed again to have access to confessional statement made by CBN on the said matter to the police.

“We see this as an act to further blackmail the CBN Governor as the blackmailers has seen that the traps set to extort him failed and thus needed other means,” the statement said.

The CCSO, however, urged the police to fish out collaborators within the bank that is responsible for the leaked tape so as to safeguard the integrity of the institution.

“This act to blackmail on the Governor should not be encouraged but rather collectively dealt with. It is now obvious that the blackmailers network is strong and for public functionaries to act, they must be dealt with accordingly. Their distractions are what we frown at, as it is capable of making the Governor of CBN lose focus on his reform policies of banking industry.

“We hereby call on security agencies to stand up and ensure that blackmailers allow our officials face reasons why they were appointed to serve the nation. The law must take his due process and in doing that, the source of the documents brandished should be further investigated as this will make our public officers safe and bold to treat issue without fear of blackmailers coming after them,” the statement added.

The group further pointed out the achievements of current leadership of the apex bank in agriculture and financial policies, especially the zero digits which is helping to diversify the economy, should not be truncated.