During a press conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Abuja, the George Uboh Whistleblowers Network, a human rights organization, called on President Bola Tinubu to instruct law enforcement agencies to collaborate with whistleblowers in crime-solving and the recovery of stolen funds. The organization emphasized the importance of protecting whistleblowers from retaliation and highlighted their role in exposing corruption and wrongdoing.
Dr. George Uboh, the Chairman of GUWN, shared his own experience of being arrested and detained for 101 days in 2019 after exposing a Forex scam involving the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele. He recommended the implementation and strengthening of the whistleblower policy, including the establishment of an independent office to safeguard and compensate whistleblowers.
Uboh commended President Bola Tinubu for his courage in apprehending a partisan CBN governor responsible for numerous crimes against the Nigerian masses. The activist also stressed the importance of appointing someone with prior whistleblowing experience to lead the office and ensure the protection of whistleblowers from any form of adverse treatment.
Uboh stated, “While there have been reports in the media about Emefiele’s corruption after my arrest, prior to that, no Nigerian dared to criticize the Almighty Emefiele. The George Uboh Whistleblowers Network exposed Emefiele’s corruption regarding forex fraud of over US$3 billion through letters written to Emefiele in April 2019.”
He further added, “We humbly request that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR direct law enforcement agencies to work with whistleblowers to expedite crime-solving, trace and recover mind-boggling stolen or trapped funds. Whistleblowers play a vital role in the fight against corruption, and it is crucial to protect them from adverse treatment and provide compensation.”
