Nigeria's Central Bank Gov. Emefiele Hurriedly Leaves US After Pres. Buhari Tongue- Lashing

The Governor of the Central Bank of

Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, on

Tuesday hurriedly abandoned President

Muhammad Buhari in the United States

following his open admonishing of him on

Monday.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria

(CBN), Godwin Emefiele, on Tuesday hurriedlyf

abandoned President Muhammad Buhari in the

United States following his open admonishing of

him on Monday.

(Middle) Godwin Emefiele

A Presidency source told SaharaReporters that

Mr. Emefiele asked to see President Buhari and

then requested to leave for an “important”

meeting in London. The President is said to have

granted the request.

On Monday, the president had warned his aides

against smuggling Nigerian businessmen into

meetings during his visit. Later that evening, he

openly admonished the CBN governor for

smuggling the former Managing Director of

Zenith bank, Jim Ovia, into a dinner organized by

the US Chamber of Commerce.

Presidency sources said the CBN governor’s

request to leave Washington DC came as a

surprise, as he had not previously informed

President Buhari of any other meeting he had to

attend, especially one that would deprive the

President of a prominent member of his

delegation.

It is unclear as of the time of publishing this

report if Mr. Ovia, who was the beneficiary of Mr.

Emefiele’s efforts, has also left the US.

Also on Monday, President Buhari took

advantage of the meeting with his aides to order

the opening of a desk at the presidential villa in

Abuja where Nigerians who wished to see him

could apply to do so. It is common knowledge

that in the preceding administration, wealthy

Nigerians paid millions to be allowed to see the

President.