FACT-CHECK: Did CBN Governor Threaten DG-DSS?
CLAIM: A 20-second TikTok video showing “Godwin Emefiele threatening Bichi DG-DSS” was widely forwarded to WhatsApp groups as well as individuals claiming that the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele dared the Director General of the Department of State Service, DSS, Yusuf Magaji Bichi to openly fight him.
Full-Text: The video wherein the claim was made showed Emefiele uttering these words: “And I hear that it is making news in social media. I am not on social media. But let him come and meet me in Central Bank. Let him show his face. Those who feel they want to support him to fight me, come out. Let’s fight…”
VERIFICATION: Tracing the TikTok post with the user’s account name – @kriskross – as watermarked on the video, PRNigeria can confirm that the post may have been deleted as it was no longer available on the user’s account.
However, a similar TikTok post that has generated more than 1 thousand likes was discovered with a similar claim.
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Results of further investigation revealed that the video was a last segment of a press briefing organized by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on September 18th, 2021 to publicize the findings of its committee on Monetary Policy to the general public.
PRNigeria traced the original video and observed that there was no mention of the Director General of the Department of State Service, DSS, throughout the briefing.
Godwin Emefiele only reacted to the rumored statements made by the owner of an online exchange website —AbokiFX.Com— allegedly operating illegally who was said to have engaged in speculative activities on the naira and reaping benefits in cash in the UK.
According to the governor of the Apex bank in Nigeria, Aboki’s website was purposely created for foreign exchange manipulation and speculation which he described as “unacceptable and punishable.”
PRNigeria discovered that the CBN Governor’s reaction was targeted at the Director and Owner of the AbokiFX, Olusegun Adedotun Oniwinde who is based in London.
CONCLUSION: Facts gathered by PRNigeria revealed that Godwin Emefiele did not, at anytime, threaten or dare the DG-DSS, Yusuf Magaji Bichi to fight with him openly.
PRNigeria, therefore, concludes that the claim is FALSE.
