Jim Obazee, the special investigator appointed by President Bola Tinubu to probe the activities of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and related entities has wound down and submitted its report.
Obazee, according to a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, submitted the report of the panel following the termination of the scope of the task on March 31, 2024.
“Subsequent to the conclusion of the assignment and the submission of a final comprehensive report, and with the winding up of all apparatuses used during the scope of the task which terminated on March 31, 2024, the investigation is formally closed, with all appropriate law enforcement and regulatory agencies already conducting follow-up action,” the statement reads.
The statement further indicated that President Tinubu commented Obazee for his services while wishing him success in his future endeavours.
Tinubu appointed Obazee, a former chief executive officer (CEO) of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN), in July 2023 and also tasked him to work on a comprehensive report on public wealth currently in the hands of corrupt individuals and establishments.
On December 22, 2023, the panel submitted a report, titled, ‘Report of the Special Investigation on CBN and Related Entities (Chargeable offences)’, to President Bola Tinubu —, which revealed fraudulent activities and malfeasance in Nigeria’s CBN.
One of the finding of the report was that Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the CBN, allegedly consented to the “unlawful removal” of $6.23 million from the vault of the apex bank’s Abuja office.
The panel also alleged “fraudulent” use of ways and means advances by the CBN under Emefiele and also accused him of using proxies to set up Titan Trust Bank (TTB) to acquire Union Bank of Nigeria.
