Senator Ben Murray-Bruce has said that he could not find anything incriminating after listening to the recording of selected conversations among the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, his deputy and some senior officials of the bank.
The recording which became public knowledge over the weekend highlighted conversations between Emefiele and other top CBN executives over loans to state governments which negatively affected the apex bank’s balance sheet and shareholders’ fund.
Murray-Bruce wrote on Twitter Monday in support of Emefiele.
“I listened to the tape. There is no criminality involved. I read the statement by the @cenBank of Nigeria and it agrees with information they presented to @NGRSenate. This is a highly sensitive matter that was brought out now probably by someone jealous of Emefiele’s renomination,” he said.
CBN had in a statement on Sunday night said that contrary to the narrative that the discussion was about a fraudulent transaction, the beginning of the conversation was omitted to create a different impression to a misunderstanding that affected the bank’s balance sheet.
The bank also said it would pursue every legal means to bring the originators of the recording to justice.
“The integrity of the CBN governor remains unassailable. He has no account in Dubai or anywhere in the world and would never convert the funds of the CBN for personal use.
“Not in the past, not now and not ever. The use of selective wiretapped conversations of the bank’s management, to malign his character and integrity will never stand,” CBN said.
