A video capturing the moment Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was apprehended at the airport has surfaced online. The footage emerged shortly after Peter Afunanya, the spokesperson for the Department of State Services (DSS), confirmed that Emefiele was in their custody.
According to reports, Emefiele was arrested at the airport as he allegedly attempted to flee the country. He was then flown from Lagos to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, where he was escorted out of a car by DSS operatives and subsequently led onto a private jet waiting to transport him back to Abuja.
In the video shared on social media, Emefiele can be seen being forced out of the vehicle while being handcuffed by the DSS operatives. The authenticity of the video has not been independently verified.
DSS spokesperson Peter Afunanya later released a statement confirming Emefiele's detention for "investigative reasons." The statement emphasized the need for caution in reporting and narratives surrounding the incident.
Emefiele's suspension was announced the previous day by Willie Bassey, the Director of Information at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Bassey cited an ongoing investigation and planned financial sector reforms as the reasons for Emefiele's suspension. As a result, Emefiele was instructed to hand over the affairs of his office to the Deputy Governor (Operations Directorate) until the investigation and reforms are concluded.
