DSS arrests CBN finance director Fakunle – The Department of State Service (DSS) has apprehended and detained Benjamin Fakunle, the outgoing Finance Director for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
It was learnt that the Secret Service arrested him to comprehend his role in the recently published seven-year audited accounts of the CBN which is being alleged to have not followed stipulated accounting and reporting guidelines.
Fakunle, who recently retired, is among the many officials of the central bank who have been detained and questioned as Jim Obazee, the Special Investigator appointed by President Bola Tinubu, continues his investigation of the CBN.
He was reportedly arrested on Wednesday at his retirement celebration in Abuja and has been detained since.
Fakunle is reportedly being questioned about why and how accounting guidelines that allegedly deviated from the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) were used to prepare the CBN’s published accounts.
In addition, he would be required to explain why allegedly N401 million was paid for the document in violation of Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria regulations.
In late July, President Tinubu appointed a special panel headed by Jim Obazee to investigate the CBN following the arrest and prosecution of former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele for alleged financial misdeeds.
As part of the ongoing audit, according to BusinessDay, the has since questioned the deputy governors of the CBN as well as other senior bank officials.
Since his detention on June 10, 2023, a day after President Tinubu removed him from office, Emefiele has been in the custody of the DSS.