Prominent South-East leaders in the diaspora have accused the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, of orchestrating what they describe as a calculated “ethnic cleansing” of Igbo professionals from Nigeria’s apex financial institution.
In a detailed petition obtained, signed by respected South East diaspora figures across the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, South Africa, Canada, and beyond, the group decried what they called “a blatant, unprecedented sidelining of South Easterners” in the CBN under Cardoso’s watch.
The document references a widely discussed report by journalist and broadcaster Rufai Oseni, which exposed a deep-rooted pattern of nepotism and ethnic bias in the latest round of directorship appointments.
The petition alleged that Governor Cardoso has relentlessly purged the CBN of top South East professionals since assuming office.
In May 2024, all South East directors were dismissed, including Chibuzor Efobi, who headed Financial Policy and Regulation, Dr Scholastica Ozoemena Nnaji of Trade and Exchange, Chibuike Nwaegerue from the Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department, and Nkiru Asiegbu who led the Special Duties unit.
The petitioners say their dismissals were carried out without board approval and disciplinary proceedings, and without the affected officials being informed of any wrongdoing.
Beyond directors, over 20 deputy directors and 15 assistant directors, many of whom were foreign-trained specialists, were also axed.
Among those swept out were Dr Valentine Ururuka, a macro-prudential expert trained at the University of Lancaster; Dr Odim Orji, a leading monetary policy expert; Angela Ofili, an HR strategist; and Christian Eze, another respected HR professional.
The group insists that these terminations were illegal and have opened the floodgates to multiple lawsuits that now embarrass the institution and threaten to impose heavy liabilities on Nigerian taxpayers.
The petitioners further claim that following this purge, the recent wave of appointments to fill the vacant directorship positions was rigged in favour of South West candidates, many of whom allegedly underperformed or never applied for the positions they were eventually given.
They cited the case of Rita Ijeoma Sike, a top performer in the interview for Director of Banking Supervision.
Despite reportedly outscoring her South West counterpart, Adetona Sikiru Adedeji, the position was given to Adedeji, while Sike was moved elsewhere.
In a similar vein, Chikelu Edison Oballum won the interview for the Development Finance Institutions Supervision Department but was sidelined in favour of Monsurat Vincent, who was instead appointed Director of Strategy—a role she neither applied nor interviewed for.
Another high-performing candidate, Paul Ihuoma Oluikpe, ranked among the top two in both Strategy and Corporate Communications Department interviews. Yet he was denied both roles. Instead, the rules were changed mid-process and Strategy was handed to Vincent, while Corporate Communications was merged with Investor Relations and handed to another less-qualified candidate.
Promise Joe-Ibekwe, a promising Southeast woman who competed for Director of Payments System Management, was bypassed in favour of Rakiya Opemi Yusuf, who reportedly never even applied for the role. Likewise, Ifeoma Geraldine Okwor, who was impressed during her assessment for the Banking Services Department, was ultimately ignored while less competent candidates from the South West secured top positions.
The Southeast leaders describe these actions as “a tribal bazaar” where ethnic loyalty trumped national unity and merit. They pointed out that Governor Cardoso, in a single wave of appointments, gave 13 directorships to Yoruba candidates out of 29 departments while leaving the entire Southeast with just one.
In contrast, previous administrations, including that of the embattled former Governor Godwin Emefiele, ensured at least four directors from each geopolitical zone. Even during Emefiele’s controversial reign, regional balance was never this recklessly violated.
In their statement, the petitioners warned that Cardoso’s actions have eroded public trust and could endanger national cohesion. They called on the National Assembly to immediately probe the appointments and reverse what they describe as “institutionalised injustice.”
They also demanded sweeping reforms in the governance of the CBN, including the separation of the roles of the Governor and Board Chairman to prevent what they see as unchecked abuse of power.
The petition closes with a strong message to the Nigerian government and political elite: “The South East has paid its dues in building this nation. We will not tolerate systemic exclusion. We are mobilizing our senators and representatives to act. This injustice will not go unanswered in 2027. Any institution or administration that discriminates against us will face political consequences.”
The document bears the signatures of over 20 influential South East voices in the diaspora, including Elder Chibuzor Nsofor in Hamburg, Aloysius Egwu in California, Prince Ulu Aguchekwa in London, Amara Duru in Helsinki, and Professor Chike Ubani in Missouri, among others
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