‘How I was detained by emefiele for 100 days for exposing forex scam’

George Uboh, the Chairman of the George Uboh Whistleblowers Network (GUWN), has come forward to reveal his arrest and subsequent detention for a period of 101 days in 2019.

Uboh alleges that his arrest was a direct result of his exposure of a forex scam involving Godwin Emefiele, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

During a press conference held in Abuja on Monday, Uboh shared the details of his ordeal and commended President Bola Tinubu for suspending Emefiele and initiating an investigation into the matter.

Uboh stated, “While the media is replete with reports of Emefiele’s corruption post-arrest, pre-arrest, however, no Nigerian dared criticise the Almighty Emefiele. George Uboh Whistleblowers Network (hereinafter GUWN) exposed Emefiele’s corruption regarding forex fraud of over US$3 billion via letters written to Emefiele on or about April 1, 2019.

“On May 15, 2019, the day Emefiele appeared before the Senate for screening and clearance for his second tenure, I was arrested in my Maitama office. I was detained for 101 days for defamation of Emefiele’s rotten character. The then Chief Judge, FCT, Ishaq Bello refused to hear my bail application. DIG Mike Ogbizi verbally denied me bail after I fulfilled the administrative bail granted to me by his men at Force CID.

“We humbly request that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR direct law enforcement agencies to work with whistleblowers to solve crimes swifter, trace and recover mind-boggling funds stolen or trapped.

“Implement and strengthen the whistleblower policy initiated by his predecessor, with an office (not domiciled in any ministry for sake of conflict of interest), to be headed by someone who has the capacity and passion to imbibe all the tenets of whistleblowing.”

Uboh further advocated for the establishment and strengthening of the whistleblower policy in Nigeria.

He suggested the creation of an independent office specifically dedicated to whistleblowing, ensuring it is not affiliated with any existing ministry to avoid conflicts of interest.

According to Uboh’s recommendations, this office should be headed by an individual with expertise and a strong commitment to whistleblowing and its principles.

The objective would be to provide robust protection and appropriate compensation for whistleblowers who come forward with valuable information.