The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, has been faced with a series of challenges ranging from economic crises to policy controversies, and his leadership of the Bank has been marked by both praise and criticism.
One of the major challenges faced by Emefiele was the severe economic recession that hit Nigeria in 2016. Plunging oil prices, coupled with mismanagement and corruption, led to a sharp decline in the country’s revenue and foreign exchange reserves.
Emefiele implemented various measures to stabilize the economy, including tight monetary policies and foreign exchange controls. While these measures helped to some extent, they also faced criticism for their impact on businesses and the overall economy.
Prior to the general elections, politicians also criticized the impact of the Cash Swap Programme on the country’s economy, claiming that the program has contributed to cash scarcity and liquidity challenges, which made it difficult for businesses and individuals to access physical cash.
In recent news, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) made headlines with its reported efforts to arrest Emefiele, and the news had generated significant attention and sparked discussions regarding the motives and implications of such an action.
Claim: President Buhari has granted CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, study leave ahead of May 29
Media reports on Friday indicated that Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has approved study leave to the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria Godwin Emefiele, ahead of the May 29 inauguration.
According to the reports, this presents an opportunity for Emefiele to flee the country before a new government is inaugurated, amid corruption and terrorism-financing allegations against him.
How true is this claim?
There is no credible information or official announcement to support this claim. As of Friday, there was no evidence to suggest that any study leave had been granted to the CBN Governor by President Buhari.
Verdict: The claim that President Buhari has granted CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, study leave ahead of May 29 is therefore, false.