A non Governmental Organisation (NGO) Rethink African Foundation, and a businessman Mr Moses Atunba have approached a High Court in Abuja to seek the removal of Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for playing partisan politics.
In a suit filed on Monday, the duo asked the court to direct President Muhammadu Buhari to relieve the Emefiele of his job as his aspiration for presidency is a breach of office.
Among other things, the plaintiffs are seeking that:
* A DECLARATION of this Honourable Court that the 3rd Defendant cannot continue in office by his association with partisan political parties which robs the CBN of the independence granted by extant Laws.
* A DECLARATION of this Honourable Court that Mr. Godwin Emefiele is no longer fit and proper to continue in office as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria by his association with partisan political interest
* A DECLARATION of this Honourable Court that the incumbent Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria Mr. Godwin Emefiele who has been openly canvassed and paraded as a contestant for a partisan political office is by this action robbed of public confidence as to his impartiality in discharging the function of his office with respect to currency dealing, monetary policies, financial intermediation to banks and consumers , business enterprises, and the general public.
* A DECLARATION of this Honourable Court that by engaging in partisan politics either by himself or through proxies, friends , or associates by any name called to the extent of appearing in APC campaign posters, billboards and campaign vehicles, the incumbent can no longer impartially continue to act in a professional manner as adviser to the Government of Nigeria on financial and monetary policies, and as regulator of the financial sector of Nigeria
* A DECLARATION of this Honourable Court that by the community reading and interpretation of Section 9 of the Central Bank of Nigeria (Establishment) Act and Section 66 (1), 107 (f), 137 (1) (g) 142 (2), 182 and 187(2) of the 1999 Constitution a sitting CBN Governor is precluded from partisan political interests whilst still in office .
* An ORDER of this Honourable Court mandating the 1st defendant to immediately sack Mr. Emefiele from office to protect the independence of the CBN.
It will be recalled that the CBN Governor purchased last week, the N100m Normination Form under the ruling party ahead of the 2023 presidential 2023, an act which triggered several reactions from different quarters.
