Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has denied an online report by Sahara Reporters alleging that he is among sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria, describing the claim as fabricated and malicious.
In a statement, Emefiele said the publication was brought to his attention earlier in the day, prompting him to address what he called a deliberate attempt to smear his reputation and mislead Nigerians.
“I state categorically and unequivocally that this claim is entirely fabricated, baseless, and a deliberate attempt to malign my name, mislead the public, and sow confusion for motives best known only to the publishers and their sponsors,” he said.
The former apex bank chief, who served during a period marked by economic reforms and heightened institutional scrutiny, stressed that matters of national security must not be trivialised through irresponsible reporting.
“The fight against terrorism is too important to be trivialised by irresponsible reporting, and Nigerians deserve better than such reckless misinformation,” he added.
Emefiele maintained that at no time during his public service or private life had he engaged in any activity linked to terrorism or actions capable of undermining national peace.
He urged Nigerians to dismiss the report entirely and cautioned media organisations against publishing unverified claims capable of fuelling tension or damaging reputations.
Emefiele’s reaction adds to concerns over misinformation, politically-motivated attacks, and the rising trend of sensational online reporting in Nigeria—issues that continue to shape public discourse and challenge responsible journalism.
Writing by Sherifat Oyediran