The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has expressed sadness for refusing to sign a warrant for the arrest of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
He stated that if the CBN fails to address the challenges that Nigerians endure as a result of the currency swap policy, the House will be forced to reconvene before this month’s general elections.
Gbajabiamila stated this during a town hall meeting with certain ethnic groups in Surulere, Lagos.
The Speaker stated that the House would continue to closely monitor the CBN’s implementation of the policy following the Green Chamber’s meeting with Emefiele on the issue.
Gbajabiamila said, “The House of Representatives intervened on several occasions. We summoned the CBN governor the first time and again, but he refused to answer because we had many hard questions for him.
“It was until I issued the threat of warrant of arrest before he came, and I would have signed that warrant; it would have been the first time in the history of the National Assembly that a CBN governor would be arrested. I would have done it.”
He added, “Many have argued on the independence of CBN, the autonomy of CBN. That doesn’t make CBN above the law.
“So, we’re watching, and we’re monitoring very closely. If need be, we’ll reconvene the House, even though we have all been away for our elections. I’ll call the House back if need be.”