The Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in charge of Financial System Stability, Aisha Ahmad has denied being arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS).
BrandSpur Nigeria understands that Aisha Ahmad according to NTA on its X, formerly Twitter handle, was arrested and detained for fraudulent acquisition of shares in Polaris Bank, Titan Bank/Union Bank.
“The CBN Deputy Governor is currently being interrogated on how $300 million to complete the acquisition of Union Bank was raised by Titan Bank,” NTA reported on its X handle.
However, in the latest development sighted on Omonaija Blog, sources close to Aisha Ahmad said the CBN Deputy Governor was never arrested, and assured that she is safe and sound
“I wish to reassure everyone that Aishah Ahmad is home with her family and not detained by the DSS, she is safe and sound:, the source said.
DSS Keep Mum
BrandSpur Nigeria reports that as of the time of filing this report, the Department of State Services (DSS) has kept mum on the reported arrest of Aisha Ahmad.
When contacted, DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya, told Channels Television that he cannot confirm or deny that Ahmad is in their custody or has been invited for questioning.
He stated that in the course of any investigation, people can be invited for questioning and those invitations are carried out within the ambit of the law.
Recall there is an ongoing investigation into the activities of the Godwin Emefiele-led Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as instructed by President Bola Tinubu, all senior officials of the Central Bank have been interrogated by the DSS and the appointed special investigator.
Meanwhile, BrandSpur Nigeria recalls that Aisha Ahmad was appointed Deputy CBN governor on 6 October 2017, replacing Sarah Alade, who retired in March 2017. She was confirmed by the Nigerian Senate on 22 March 2018.
In December 2022, the Peoples Gazette claimed that Ahmad helped facilitate the sale of Polaris Bank at a favorable price in order to be considered for the position of Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The CBN denied these allegations and asserted that the sale of Polaris Bank was an institutional decision supervised by a committee of senior representatives of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and the CBN.
BrandSpur Nigeria understands that the divestment was also coordinated with outside legal and financial advisers and approved by the leadership and boards of Polaris Bank and the purchaser, Strategic Capital Investment Limited.
The CBN stated at the time that no other party made a higher purchase offer as alleged by the Peoples Gazette in its report
