DSS impounds Emefiele passport as investigation continues

In accordance with reports, Godwin Emefiele, the Central Bank Governor who has been placed on administrative leave, had his passport confiscated by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Emefiele was removed from his position as the top bank official by President Bola Tinubu on Friday. Emefiele was subsequently detained by DSS agents in Lagos and transported to Abuja on a private plane on Saturday.

The suspended CBN head’ travel documents had been taken, according to a DSS source who spoke with The Punch on Sunday. This is done till the inquiry is over.

He claimed that Emefiele’s passport was impounded in accordance with routine operating practice and that the suspended CBN governor had been on the service’s watch list for quite some time.

The source also said that the suspended apex bank governor’s home and office would be searched for records that could help the ongoing inquiry.

He said;

Of course, Emefiele’s travel document would be confiscated as part of the standard process pending the conclusion of our investigation. Also, as part of the investigation, his house and office would be searched for documents that can aid the ongoing investigation on his management of the CBN.

The DSS source claims that more senior CBN directors could be detained or called for questioning their involvement in running the central bank.

He added that the criminal allegations, including fraud and sponsorship of terrorism, that the secret police had previously brought against Emefiele, may be reevaluated.

Prior to this, the secret police had made an attempt to convince Justice John Tsoho, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, to issue an arrest warrant for Emefiele.

The DSS will additionally investigate Emefiele’s negligent supervision of the CBN subsidiary, Nigeria’s Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending.