Reps Query Emefiele’s Non-Appearance Before House

The House of Representatives have queried the refusal of Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, to appear before it for the second time in two weeks.

Emefiele was billed to appear before the House on Tuesday after earlier failing to appear last Thursday.

The House had summoned Emefiele to explain the bank’s recent cash withdrawal policy.

Last Thursday, Deputy Governor, Corporate Services of the CBN, Edward Adamu, in a communication to the House, told the lawmakers that Emefiele was on President Muhammadu Buhari’s entourage to the United States and unable to honour the invitation.

Deputy Speaker of the House, Ahmed Wase, who read out the letter to members at the opening of plenary on Thursday, had said the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, had rescheduled Emefiele’s appearance to Tuesday.

However, the CBN wrote the House again, yesterday, to say Emefiele was still on official assignment.

Commenting, Gbajabiamila said the lawmakers would want to know about the official assignment that had lasted two weeks.

Similarly, Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu, pointed out that if the CBN governor decides not to appear before the House on Thursday, and the lawmakers procced on recess as have scheduled to go on Christmas and New Year break, their resolution on suspension of the policy still stands.