The Department of State Services (DSS) has denied a viral report that says it has arrested and detained the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.

Reports went viral on Friday night that the CBN governor had been held in the custody of the secret police agents after his suspension on Friday by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The DSS stated in a succinct tweet on Saturday that the suspended CBN governor is not being held by the security agency.

The post reads, “Currently, Emefiele is not with the DSS.”

Recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu suspended the Central Bank of Nigeria Godwin Emefiele, on Friday with immediate effect.

This was confirmed in a statement by the Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Willie Bassey, on Friday.

i-News Nigeria reported that Mr. Emefiele has been directed to immediately hand over the affairs of his office to the Deputy Governor (Operations Directorate), who will act as the Central Bank Governor pending the conclusion of the investigation and the reforms.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has suspended the Central Bank Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, CFR, from office with immediate effect,” the Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Willie Bassey said in a Friday statement.

“This is sequel to the ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy.

“Mr Emefiele has been directed to immediately hand over the affairs of his office to the Deputy Governor (Operations Directorate), who will act as the Central Bank Governor pending the conclusion of the investigation and the reforms.” The statement said.

Emefiele, a seasoned banker, was first appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan on February 20, 2014 hours after the sack of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

He officially took over the leadership of Nigeria’s apex bank on June 2, 2014.

He was reappointed for a second term final five-year term on May 9, 2019 by former President Muhammadu Buhari in a letter to the Senate.