Former Kaduna senator Shehu Sani has urged the administration of President Bola Tinubu to give credit to former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele, for his role in the renovation of the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.
The federal government in July 2024 renamed the National Arts Theatre as the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts in honour of Nigeria’s Nobel Laureate.
President Tinubu, who commissioned the renovated structure, said the decision was in recognition of Soyinka’s contributions to literature, freedom and nation-building.
Reacting on X on Wednesday, Mr Sani said, “The renaming of the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu to The Wole Soyinka Centre for Arts and Creative Arts is commendable. Credit should be given to Obasanjo for building the edifice for the Festac 77 and appreciation to Mr Godwin Emefiele for mobilising the Bankers’ Committee to renovate it back to life after decades of neglect.”
Emefiele is currently facing multiple cases in court instituted by the federal government.
He has been charged with procurement fraud, forgery, criminal breach of trust and conspiracy linked to contracts awarded by the CBN between 2018 and 2022.
He is also facing trial over alleged property fraud involving a 753-unit housing estate in Abuja.
Emefiele has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In August 2024, an Abuja High Court ordered the federal government, the EFCC, the DSS and the attorney-general of the federation to pay him N100 million for violation of his rights, ruling that he should not be re-arrested or detained without a court order.
He has since secured bail in some of the cases.
