CBN Has Always Covered Up Monumental Fraud, Says Falana

Femi Falana, foremost human rights lawyer and activist has said that the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration is allowing itself to be used in covering N500bn Naira fraud by the governor of the Central Bank Of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.

Falana’s statement is coming on the heels of an audio confirmed by the central bank as authentic which detailed plans by the CBN governor and top officials of the apex bank to cover up N500bn which they used illegally for a private business.

Falana in a press statement on Tuesday said: “Having carefully listened to the recorded telephone conversation of the Governor and top management staff of the CBN it is indubitably clear that the sum of N500 billion is missing from the CBN.

“The discussions clearly centered on how to cover up the monumental fraud including cooking up the books.

“It was even suggested that N2 billion be set aside to compromise the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

“In view of the confirmation of the missing N500 bilion and the desperate moves to cover it up President Buhari should set up a panel of enquiry to probe the scandal.

“The press statement of the CBN management denying the fraud should be treated with disdain as it is a dubious attempt to play on the collective intelligence of the Nigerian people.

“The CBN has a penchant for covering up the criminal diversion of huge public funds.

“The bank covered up the sum of $12.4 billion in the dedicated accounts withdrawn from 1988-1993 by military president, Gen Ibrahim Babangida. In the same vein, CBN covered up the $7 billion withdrawn by ex-gov of the central bank, Professor Charles Soludo and purportedly placed as deposit in some unnamed banks.

“The Buhari regime which claims to be fighting corruption must not allow the Central Bank to cover up the missing N500 billion.” he concluded.