Nigerian ex-central bank chief quizzed
2013-01-11 12:49
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Lagos - Nigeria's anti-graft agency said on Friday the former
head of the country's central bank had been questioned over a probe into
alleged bribery related to a printing contract for banknotes.
The investigation centres on a contract for Securency, a
note-printing firm partly owned by the Reserve Bank of Australia. Allegations
have surfaced in Australia of corruption in various countries involving
Securency and another RBA subsidiary, Note Printing Australia.
"We had Professor Charles Soludo in our custody
yesterday. He was asked to explain his role in the award of contract for the
printing of banknotes while in office," Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission spoksperson Wilson Uwujaren told AFP.
He said the agency was probing allegations that Securency
bribed top Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) officials to win the contract to print
polymer notes between 2006 and 2008.
Uwujaren said Soludo, who was CBN governor from May 2004 to
May 2009, was assisting the commission in the investigations and had been asked
to report on Friday for further questioning.
After leaving the central bank, Soludo became the candidate
of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party for governor of his southeastern Anambra
state in February 2010, but lost the vote.
