CBN: Desperate Emefiele Goes To Court Over Presidential Ambition

By James Orji
Amid widespread condemnations of his alleged presidential ambition, the CBN governor had headed to a Federal High Court in Abuja to seek a constitutional interpretation on his non-resignation while pursuing his political interests.
Reacting after friends of the CBN Governor obtained the All Progressives Congress, APC nomination for him, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State had called on him to resign from his prizedd position or be fired by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Akeredolu, who is also the chairman of South West Governors had described Emefiele’s ambition a “joke taken too far” citing the Constitutional provision which bared any public officials from contesting electing until such has resigned.
On her part, a former Minister of Education, Obby Ezekwesili lampooned the CBN Governor, noting that Emefiele has destroyed the nation’s economy after allegedly opening up the CBN vault fro the Buhari led government.
The apex bank boss later denied that he has obtained the form. He said he’s still expecting God’s lead before he made any decision on the issue. Emefiele said that decision will be made in few days, adding that he will not obtain the presidential nomination form by proxies if he decided to run, in a veil reference to those who obtained the form for him for a whopping N100 million.
Byut sources said the CBN governor had now reached out to a constitutional lawyer and human rights activist, Dr Mike Ozekhome (SAN), to seek interpretation of the constitution and public service rules on public servants seeking elective positions while in office.
A highly placed source in the CBN told The 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).”
Several efforts by The PUNCH correspondent to get the reliefs being sought by Emefiele from the source proved abortive.
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.”
Three interest groups – the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Friends of Emefiele and Emefiele Support Group – last week paid N100m for the APC presidential expression of interest and nominations forms for Emefiele.