LAGOS — The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday, refuted allegation of proposed plans to convert domiciliary accounts deposits of banks’ customers to naira.

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele

The Director of Corporate Communication, Mr. Ibrahim Mu’azu, in a statement made available to Vanguard said: “The attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been drawn to a malicious rumour purporting that the CBN is planning to convert the Foreign Currency Domiciliary Account Deposits (US Dollars or British Pounds Sterling) of customers in Nigerian banks into Naira.”

According to him, “the CBN wishes to refute this rumour in the strongest possible terms. This story is categorically and completely untrue and has no basis whatsoever in the bank’s pronouncements or plans. The CBN has never contemplated such an action and has no intention to do so.

“The CBN would like to reiterate that customers who operate domiciliary accounts as well as the general public should disregard this fictitious rumour, and go about their normal businesses. There is no intention at all to tamper with the Foreign Exchange Currencies in the accounts of customers in our banks.

The CBN recently stated that it will not restrict access and application of funds held in domiciliary accounts in Nigeria. The apex bank also dismissed rumours that it will engage in capital controls or raid the $19.5 billion held by Nigerians in private bank accounts.