Chidi Odinkalu, a Nigerian human rights campaigner and professor of Practice in International Human Rights Law at the Fletcher School, Tufts University, has stated that what transpired when Godwin Emefiele was the head of the Central Bank of Nigeria was criminal.
He streesed that he has zero empathy for the detained top banker in his current face of trial.
Professor Chidi Odinkalu disclosed this while responding to questions on latest events across Nigeria on the Thursday edition of Channels TV’s Politics Today.
He said he had made up his mind about the embattled CBN boss while adding that what transpired when he was the head of the apex bank was criminal.
“I have no sympathy for Godwin Emefiele. I already made my opinion of him as CBN governor public. I honestly believe that what transpired when he was the CBN governor was criminal.
“Whatever fate befalls him within the legal process, I will not shed tears for him. I am not sure if he would shed a tear for himself.”
Emefiele was suspended from office by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday.
The suspension was ascribed to an ongoing inquiry into his office and what the presidency described as planned reforms in the economy’s financial sector.
Speaking on the right of the State Security Service, SSS, officers to detain Emefiele and Abdulrasheed Bawa of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the legal expert said the SSS has the same power as the police.
He added that the SSS can arrest, detain and even prosecute those it deemed necessary for violating laws concerning Nigeria’s national security and beyond.