Emefiele’s suspension: Fear grips public sector CEOs over possible probe, arrest

…As MDAs suspend payment of contractors, third parties

Fear has gripped high-ranking officials in Nigeria’s public sector following the proactive steps being taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to tackle waste of government resources and suspension of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.

A Federal Government staff who spoke on condition of anonymity with Nigerian NewsDirect said, “Most senior officials are trying to be careful now with the new administration. They fear being investigated.”

Findings by Nigerian NewsDirect also revealed that the President has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to suspend payments to contractors or third parties for the time being. This decision also affected payment for advertorials in newspapers by MDAs.

A source informed Nigerian NewsDirect that this directive was intended to cushion last minute contracts awarded by officials in the last administration of President Muhammadu Buhari suspected to be fraudulent. The suspension of payment also affected salaries of MDAs which were paid last week.

Information gathered revealed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupts Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) have reopened cases against some of the MDAs previously abandoned. For instance, Directors in the Aviation Ministry on annual leave were recalled to resume work immediately.

With fear in the air, fake news peddlers also took advantage to spread false information regarding an alleged suspension of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mele Kolo Kyari. However, the NNPCL has come out to deny the news.

According to the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPCL, Garba Deen Muhammad, “it is the handiwork of mischief markers.”

This is coming on the heels of the suspension of the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele on Friday.

Emeifele was arrested in Lagos and whisked away to Abuja by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS).

Earlier, President Tinubu in his inaugural address to Nigerians declared that his government will take proactive steps such as championing a credit culture to discourage corruption.

He added that his administration will also strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of the various anti-corruption agencies.