The Center for Financial Surveillance and Illicit Transaction Tracking Group (CSITT), has warned about the consequences of the Department of State Services (DSS) arresting the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
Recall that Emefiele has been facing attacks from all corners as a result of the CBN policy on withdrawal limits.
The group in a statement issued by its Director, John Dimu said that Egmont Group, a 164 countries membership forum that provides financial units with a platform to securely exchange expertise and financial intelligence to combat money laundering and terrorist financing among others, would have suspended Nigeria if DSS had framed Emefiele for trumped up terrorism charge.
CSITT said Nigeria risks being blacklisted by global financial bodies due to DSS allegations.
The group added that suspension of Nigeria from the group if it happens will be embarrassing given that the country has been suspended back in 2017 over a lack of a legal framework and autonomy.
The statement reads: “We received with disappointment the reports of the discovery of a Suit secretly filed by the State Security Service wherein it accused Mr Godwin Emefiele of terrorism financing as well as other crimes it described as economic crimes of national security dimension.
“The allegation that the SSS embarked on this plot to remove the CBN Governor for political and pecuniary reasons, is not only a huge shame but against the ethics of the Egmont Group of which Nigeria is a member.
“Recall that the group had suspended NFIU, an arm of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, after its plenary in Macao, China, on July 2, 2017.
“The group suspended Nigeria as a result of its lack of a legal framework and autonomy. It’s quite shocking that DSS could be found being part of this illegal move. We advise DSS to focus on its mandate rather than becoming lapdogs for politicians.”
