The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has warned that no appointee of President Muhammadu Buhari with any corruption allegation should leave Nigeria for any reason until investigations are concluded on their various roles in government.
The CNG was very particular about the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, saying he should not be allowed to leave the country until he frees himself of all the allegations made against him.
CNG Spokesman, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, took this position in Abuja on Thursday during a press briefing.
He added that those with such motives should be taken as enemies of the state and be dealt with in accordance with the provision of the law of the land.
Suleiman said, “We demand that when the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari bows out of office, all key office holders must be asked to clear themselves of all pending corruption and other allegations against them.”
The group insisted in particular that the CBN Governor must be made to give account of his stewardship to the incoming administration, saying that if any study leave had been approved for Emefiele or any other suspected official, it should be canceled in the interest of peaceful transfer of power, accountability and good governance.
The CNG observed that just recently, precisely on Monday, May 15, 2023, the Nigeria Police headquarters confirmed that plots to scuttle the May 29th official inauguration of the new administration of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and governors at the state level were real.
Suleiman said that CNG demands that anybody or group found remotely involved with the financing, direct execution or concealing information on this sinister and diabolic scheme, be treated appropriately as a treasonable felony and enemy of the state and fellow citizens.
The group further urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to extend its investigation of corrupt practices to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government.
It said it rejected the purported plan to limit the searchlight to only outgoing state governors and demand that the EFCC Chairman carries out a holistic probe by extending the beam on the Presidency, Federal Government ministries, parastatals and cabinet members of the outgoing administration.
He added that the group also demanded a thorough search into allegations against the EFCC itself as well as the disabling volume of debt amassed for the country by the outgoing administration.