The George Uboh Whistleblowers Network (GUWN) on Monday urged President Bola Tinubu and the international community to prosecute the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele for allegedly committing financial genocide against Nigerians as a result of his failed presidential bid.

“We conclude that Emefiele has committed a crime against humanity- the Nigerian masses.  We hereby call on the international community to take cognisance of this crime as recognised by Nigeria’s Supreme Court. Emefiele unleashed financial genocide on the masses because he failed to become Nigeria’s President.

“We humbly request that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, direct law enforcement agencies to work with whistleblowers in order to solve crimes swifter, trace and recover mind-boggling funds stolen or trapped.

“Whistleblowers play a vital role in the fight against corruption, and it is crucial to protect them from adverse treatments and compensate them,” George Uboh, chairman, GUWN said while addressing journalists in Abuja. 

Mr Uboh added that the central bank’s cashless policy and naira swap under Mr Emefiele’s supervision were crimes against humanity that must be prosecuted.

He also requested that law enforcement agencies work with whistleblowers to solve crimes and retrieve stolen monies.

Mr Uboh emphasised the importance of whistleblowers in exposing corruption and wrongdoing, as well as the need to protect them from retaliation.

He also encouraged the execution and strengthening of the whistleblower policy, as well as the creation of an independent office to protect and pay whistleblowers.

He claimed that his anti-corruption network uncovered alleged corruption against Mr Emefiele in relation to a $3 billion FX fraud via letters delivered to the ex-CBN governor on or around April 1, 2019.

Mr Tinubu had on Friday suspended Mr Emefiele following an ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the economy’s financial sector.

He was later apprehended on Saturday by State Security Service (SSS) officers for further questioning. The secret police had requested a court order in December 2022 accusing the suspended CBN boss of terrorism financing, among other charges.

Mr Uboh also narrated his ordeal in the hands of the police regarding Mr Emefiele.

According to him, “On May 15, 2019, the day Emefiele appeared before the Senate for screening and clearance for his second tenure, I was arrested in my Maitama office. I was detained for 101 days for defamation of Emefiele’s rotten character. 

“The then-Chief Judge, FCT Ishaq Bello, refused to hear my bail application. DIG Mike Ogbizi verbally denied me bail after I fulfilled the administrative bail granted to me by his men at force CID.”

Mr Udoh demanded the implementation of the whistleblower policy initiated by the past administration, with an office (not domiciled in any ministry for the sake of conflict of interest) to be headed by someone who has the capacity and passion to imbibe all the tenets of whistleblowing.