Retired CBN Finance Director, Benjamin Fakunle, not arrested by DSS- Family friend

There is a counter narrative, claiming that Mr Benjamin Adeoye Fakunle, who just retired as Director of Finance in the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, was not arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS).

A family friend, who did not want his name in print, said in his reaction to the story on the arrest of Fakunle, that Fakunle was resting at home.

According to him, “Benjamin Adeoye Fakunle, retired on Tuesday, 12th September, 2023, after meritoriously serving his fatherland for 33 years and upon attaining age 60.

“The CBN organized a sendforth for him in their Corporate Headquarters, where he was eulogised in glowing terms.

“The CBN, thereafter, organised a reception for him at the Rainbow Event Marquee, Area 8, Garki Abuja.

“Mr Fakunle, in the company of friends, family, thereafter retired to his house.

“The Fakunle family will have a Thanksgiving service for their son on Saturday, 16th September at the Basilica of Grace, Gudu.

“At no time did any untoward event happen.

“lt was a celebration of the life of a Nigerian who deserved to be celebrated.

“Mr Fakunle has no reason to run away from the country, as his life is an open book.”

■ Read hereunder, as reproduced, in extenso, the story that elicited the above counter narrative:

Benjamin Fakunle, the outgoing finance director at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been arrested and detained by the Department of State Service (DSS).

A report by BusinessDay said that the Secret Service arrested him to find out 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 just retired, is one among many officials of the apex bank who have been arrested and interrogated as Jim Obazee, the Special Investigator appointed by President Bola Tinubu continues the investigation of CBN.

He was said to have been arrested on Wednesday at his retirement party in Abuja and has since been in detention.

Reports say Fakunle is being interrogated on why and how the accounting guidelines, which allegedly deviated from the provisions of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), was used to prepare the published accounts of the CBN.

He would also be required to explain why some alleged N401 million was paid for the document as against the rules laid down by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria.

President Tinubu had, late July, appointed Jim Obazee-led special panel to investigate the CBN following arrest and prosecution of former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, for alleged financial infractions.

BusinessDay further reported that the DSS had since then been questioning the deputy governors of the CBN, as well as other senior officials of the bank, as part of the ongoing audit.

Emefiele has been in the DSS custody since his arrest on June 10, 2023, a day after President Tinubu removed him from office.