A former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr Obadiah Mailafia, is dead.
The 64-year-old ace Vanguard columnist and public intellectual, who had been having running battles with security agents in Nigeria over his controversial statements, is reported to have died at the National Hospital, Abuja.
Mailafia who was born on December 24, 1956 in Randa village, Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State served as the deputy governor of the CBN from 2005 to 2007.
From 2010 to 2015, he was the chief of staff (Chef de Cabinet) to the 79-member nation African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States based in Brussels, Belgium.
In this capacity, he was the most senior adviser to the secretary-general, overseeing the strategic management function; liaising with external partners such as the European Commission, European Parliament, European Investment Bank (EIB), UN agencies and the IMF and World Bank.
In 2019, Dr Mailafia joined the presidential race under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The election was won by Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Recall that Obadiah Mailafia said on Thursday alleged that an unnamed governor in the northern part of the country was a commander of the terrorist group, Boko Haram.
He said the information followed his interaction with some Fulani traders he met in his village market, where he went to buy fonio (acha).
The former CBN deputy governor spoke Monday during the Nigeria Info 99.3 station’s programme, ‘Morning Cross Fire’ aired at 8.30 am, alleged that the commander of Boko Haram is a governor of one of the Northern states, alleging that the group plans to instigate a civil war in the country in 2022.
Mailafia honoured the said invitation, on the 12th day of August, 2020 and appeared at the DSS Plateau State Command here in Jos. On that day he was interviewed, interrogated and his statement was recorded. After six hours of interaction and interface with the DSS officials he was released on bail that very day.
He was re-invited to appear before the DSS Plateau State Command on the 17th day of August, 2020. He had another interaction with the Director of the Command for about 40 minutes after which he was allowed to go home.
Another letter of invitation was served on him on the 21st day of August, 2020 at his residence by the Nigeria Police Force through the office of the Deputy Inspector-General Force Criminal investigation Department, Abuja requesting him to appear on Monday, August 24, 2020.
