CBN may come under probe

At a recent meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and state governors in the country, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) came under the spotlight, and the president was asked to extend ongoing probes to the apex bank.

A Presidency official at the meeting on condition of anonymity told Punch on Saturday that in the course of reviewing activities of government agencies and parastatals under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, a state governor made reference to the CBN.

He said the governor, who he refused to name, did not mince words in asking Buhari to ensure that he extends his investigation to the bank.

He said, “I can tell you authoritatively that the issue of the CBN came up during the meeting the President had with state governors recently.

“I remember vividly that one governor raised the issue and called on the President to extend ongoing probes to the CBN.”

The official did not however disclose the President’s disposition to the submission made by the governor.

Buhari had while meeting state governors on June 23, stated that officials of the past government abandoned all financial and administrative instructions put in place in parastatals and agencies, therefore throwing the country into financial crisis.

He also vowed at that meeting that funds stolen by government officials who abused their offices in the past would be recovered and systemic leakages stopped.

When contacted, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said he had no information on the issue.

Read also: EFCC arraigns top CBN staff, bankers for N8bn scam

Adesina, however, said the Buhari administration was committed to transparency and accountability in all sectors.

The National Economic Council led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had on Monday launched a probe into the finances of the Nigerian National Petroleum Commission and the management of the Excess Crude Account under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

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