The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), demanding an explanation for the whereabouts of over N100 billion in “dirty and bad notes” and other public funds.
These allegations, documented in the latest annual report by the Auditor-General of the Federation, highlight serious concerns about transparency and accountability within the CBN.
SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, stated the need for clarity on the N7.2 billion budgeted for the construction of the CBN Dutse branch in 2010 and the N4.8 billion allocated for the renovation of the CBN Abeokuta branch in 2009. Additionally, SERAP urged the CBN to address the missing outstanding loans of N1.2 billion and N1.9 billion granted to the Enugu and Anambra state governments, respectively, between 2015 and 2016.
The organization called for these issues to be referred to appropriate anticorruption agencies for investigation and recovery of the funds, stressing the importance of upholding the principles of transparency and accountability to maintain public trust in the CBN.
