Buhari’s negligence of happenings at CBN ruined economy – Tinubu aide

The Presidency says ex-President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has to take responsibility for many of the fraudulent activities that occurred at the Central Bank of Nigeria under Mr Godwin Emefiele.

It accused the administration of not paying due attention to the happenings at the CBN under Emefiele, which ultimately brought the national economy to its knees.

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, made the disclosures while speaking in an interview with a media personality, Chude Jideonwo, aired on Channels Television Monday night.

He said many approvals for the release of funds within the CBN under Emefiele did not have the signature of the former president.

“The prior administration does have to take responsibility for the fact that Governor Emefiele was left in office even though he was inherited and he was given a second term to continue doing what he ended up doing.

“That responsibility and that decision were made by President Muhammadu Buhari irrespective of the fact that President Buhari knew what was going on in the Central Bank of Nigeria. So, there is a responsibility to be taken there. I have to be very categorical about that.

“I think we have to acknowledge the fact that he (Tinubu) understands more than anyone that many of the approvals within the CBN that brought us to this point had no signature to President Muhammadu Buhari and had no knowledge of President Muhammadu Buhari,” Ngelale said.

Emefiele was first appointed as CBN governor by President Goodluck Jonathan but was retained by Buhari who renewed his tenure at the apex bank.

He was removed last June and is standing trial before Justice Muazu on 20-count amended charges bordering on corrupt advantages, conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery and obtaining by false pretenses to the tune of $6,230,000.

He was accused of impersonating a former Secretary General of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, to illegally obtain the sum.

Ngelale also said that while Buhari recorded many achievements in other areas such as infrastructure and ease of doing business, his negligence in what was happening in the CBN brought the economy to where it is today.

He said that even though President Tinubu supported Buhari’s administration, he had not hesitated to disclose to Nigerians things that were unhealthy to the economy that happened under his predecessor.

“I think I have been very clear that the prior administration does have to take responsibility for the fact that Governor Emefiele was left in office even though he was inherited and he was given a second term to continue doing what he ended up doing.

“That responsibility and that decision were made by President Muhammadu Buhari irrespective of the fact that President Buhari knew what was going on in the Central Bank of Nigeria. So, there is a responsibility to be taken there, I have to be very categorical about that

“Now, that does not however mean that you throw the baby out with the bath water. We don’t say because these thing happened in the Central Bank of Nigeria President Buhari was devoid of achievements or devoid of progressive administration.

“Having infrastructure matters, working on ease of doing business, making sure that people can register a company in 48 hours as against six months before they came into office, these things actually have impacts with the responsibility attracting investments into the country.”

Ngelale cited the $6.2m said to have released in cash by the CBN for the purpose of taking care of foreign election observers as one of those approvals that had Buhari’s signature which turned out to have been allegedly forged.