Mr. Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has reportedly approached constitutional lawyer, Dr Mike Ozekhome (SAN), to seek interpretation of the constitution and public service rules on public servants seeking elective positions while in office.
This is as anger continues to swell over his reported presidential ambition, with many Nigerians, including prominent lawyers demanding his resignation.
Recall that it had emerged on Friday that three interest groups – the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Friends of Emefiele and Emefiele Support Group – paid N100m for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential expression of interest and nominations forms for Emefiele.
But the CBN governor, in a tweet on Saturday, said he was still waiting for God’s direction, adding that he would purchase the N100m forms himself if he entered the presidential race.
He said that he would continue to serve the country in his capacity as CBN governor until he received divine counsel to contest for a higher office.
Amid the controversy, sources have said that the CBN governor has reached out to Ozekhome to seek interpretation of the constitution and public service rules on public servants seeking elective positions while in office.
Source at the CBN told Punch that the case had been scheduled for today (Monday).
He said, “Emefiele has just briefed Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) as his lawyer. He has just filed a case in court and is coming up tomorrow (today, Monday).”
Although the details of the suit were still sketchy Monday night, another source in the APC said Ozekhome was taking up the matter “for certain constitutional interpretations.”
Meanwhile, the chairman of Ward 6 in the Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, Mr Nduka Erikpume, in a telephone chat with Punch on Sunday, said the CBN governor had registered as an APC member.
When asked whether Emefiele had registered in the APC, Erikpume said, “Yes, he has registered since February 2021. He is our member.”