Prominent Southeast leaders in the diaspora have accused the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, of masterminding what they describe as a “coordinated ethnic cleansing” of Igbo professionals from the country’s apex financial institution.
In a fiery petition obtained by SaharaReporters, signed by over 20 influential figures spanning the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, South Africa, Canada, and other countries, the group condemned what they termed the “systematic and unprecedented sidelining of Southeast technocrats” in the CBN under Cardoso’s leadership.
The petition referenced a now-viral exposé by respected journalist and broadcaster, Rufai Oseni, who first rang the alarm bells over a disturbing pattern of nepotism, sectionalism, and brazen ethnic bias in the apex bank’s latest round of directorship appointments.
According to the petitioners, Governor Cardoso has executed a relentless purge of top Igbo professionals since assuming office—an act they say amounts to a deliberate dismantling of ethnic representation and professional merit in favor of tribal patronage.
In a stunning revelation, the petition notes that in May 2024, all Southeast directors at the CBN were summarily dismissed. Among those ousted were:
Chibuzor Efobi, Director of Financial Policy and Regulation
Dr. Scholastica Ozoemena Nnaji, Director of Trade and Exchange
Chibuike Nwaegerue, Director of Other Financial Institutions Supervision
Nkiru Asiegbu, Director of Special Duties
The petitioners claim these dismissals were carried out without proper disciplinary proceedings, board approval, or even the courtesy of informing the affected officials of any wrongdoing—a move they describe as “administrative ambush.”
But the purge didn’t stop at the top.
Over 20 deputy directors and 15 assistant directors—many of them highly trained experts with international credentials—were also shown the door. Those affected include:
Dr. Valentine Ururuka, macro-prudential expert trained at the University of Lancaster
Dr. Odim Orji, a key figure in monetary policy strategy
Angela Ofili and Christian Eze, both respected HR professionals
The petitioners insist that these terminations were not only illegal but reckless, triggering a flood of lawsuits that threaten to undermine the bank’s credibility and saddle taxpayers with significant legal liabilities.
Even more troubling, the group says, is the lopsided and opaque process used to fill the now-vacant positions—an exercise they claim was rigged in favor of South West candidates, many of whom allegedly underperformed in assessments or never applied for the roles they secured.
They cited several damning examples:
Rita Ijeoma Sike, who reportedly topped the interview for Director of Banking Supervision, was sidelined in favor of **Adetona Sikiru Adede
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