Onanuga said so while reacting to the Special Investigation on CBN and Related Entities, Chargeable Offences report.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga has said the immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele and his gang would have faced firing squad if they were from China.
He made the assertion on his X handle, formerly Twitter recently, saying the ex-CBN boss committed egregious misappropriation while in the saddle.
TheNiche on Friday reported that Emefiele and a minister are to face trial over the scandal that rocked the apex bank in the last one year
This was after a five-month probe implicated him, the minister and 14 others in over N26.6 trillion fraud.
Others who were implicated include former and serving top officials of the apex bank.
No fewer than 16 former government and CBN officials were alleged to have indulged in fraudulent use of ‘Ways and Means,’ which stood at N26.627 trillion.
Also, a former influential aide of former President Muhammadu Buhari may be arraigned with Emefiele.
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In September 2022, the aide had allegedly told Emefiele to proceed with the naira redesign.
The printing of the new notes cost N61.5 billion out of which N31.79 billion has been paid.
There were indications that the aide also sold a “dummy” to the former president.
Preliminary investigations into the activities of the CBN and related entities revealed many infractions, including the violation of the apex bank’s Act, alleged looting, diversion of funds and sidelining of the Board of Directors.
Other allegations were lack of presidential approval, extra-budgetary spending, forgery, concealment, stealing, conspiracy and fraud
Reacting to the Special Investigation on CBN and Related Entities, Chargeable Offences report., Onanuga said Emefiele would have been killed if he was a citizen of China.
Speaking via his social media page he tweeted: “If Godwin Emefiele and his gang had committed these egregious misappropriations in China, they will by now be facing the firing squad for high treason.”