CBN debunks missing money report

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has dismissed insinuations of any missing money in its care. It was reacting to a “misconstrued” report (not The Guardian) from a “purported audio recording of selective conversations among the Governor, Deputy Governor and some senior officials.”The apex bank said it was making the clarification against the headline-grabbing narrative that the discussion was about a fraudulent transaction, stating that the conversation was simply to proffer solutions to a misunderstanding that affected the institution’s balance sheet.

Explaining the development, the apex bank said the external auditors in their Draft Account of CBN’s 2018 financials, erroneously classified about N150 billion of the Conditional Budget Support to states as bad, which negatively affected its balance sheet and shareholders’ fund.

In a statement, the apex bank stated: “As publicly known, the CBN was approached in 2015 by the National Economic Management Team and the National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by the Vice President, to assist state governments with Conditional Budget Support, in the aftermath of the significant nose-dive in global oil prices and associated FAAC allocations.

“In order to ensure that ordinary Nigerian workers got their salaries, pensions and gratuities, and that the economy continued to recover from recession, the bank provided about N650 billion in loans at nine per cent with a two-year grace period to 35 states of the federation.“These monies were distributed to the states monthly with documented approval of the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Presidency.”

“The selective conversation being circulated was simply a discussion to ascertain why the auditors took that position and next steps to resolving it. Obviously, it soon became clear that a state government loan cannot be classified as ‘bad’ or ‘irrecoverable’ when the state still exists and getting FAAC allocations.”

It went on: Consequently, CBN met with the Federal Ministry of Finance and both jointly gave comfort to the auditors, who accepted in writing that these monies would be repaid. “On this basis, the auditors reversed the negative entry and certified that the CBN’s 2018 accounts were a true reflection of the state of affairs.

“Reconciliation of balance sheet items are regular conversations amongst senior management of many agencies and should not be misconstrued as anything but that.“Had the online media, which released the selective recordings, sought the comments of CBN as required of journalism practice, we would have provided it.

“Clearly, those who listened to the audio can easily ascertain that the conversation had nothing to do with anything fraudulent as purported. The bank therefore urges all well-meaning Nigerians to disregard this audio and continue to trust that the bank is doing everything it can to represent their interests in the best possible way.

“Under the leadership of Governor Emefiele, the CBN has always stood for, and vigorously pursued transparency in its stewardship of public resources and policies. “The integrity of the CBN Governor remains unassailable and he has no account in Dubai or anywhere in the world and would never convert the funds of CBN for personal use- not in the past, not now and not ever.”

The statement also added that the “use of selective wiretapped conversations of the bank’s management, to malign his character and integrity will never stand, as the bank will pursue every legal means to bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Source: The Guardian