The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has denied authorising the release of $46 billion to a private organisation for empowerment and development projects, describing a document circulating online as fake.
The purported approval, dated August 13, 2026, and allegedly issued from the CBN Governor’s Office in Abuja, claimed that Governor Yemi Cardoso had approved a $46 billion developmental grant for the ATUFEG Empowerment and Development Center.
The document, referenced as GOV/END/2026/00050, claimed that the apex bank had authorised the immediate transfer of the funds to an account designated by the supposed beneficiary.
“The CBN confirms full endorsement and authorises the immediate transfer of these funds to the beneficiary’s designated account for utilisation according to the stipulated mandate.”
It further claimed that the purported approval was final and binding and carried the name and alleged endorsement of the CBN governor.
However, the CBN, in a post published on its official X handle, disowned the document and clarified that it did not issue any approval or authorisation for the alleged $46 billion grant.
The purported document identified ATUFEG Empowerment and Development Center as the beneficiary and contained personal and banking-related identification details.
It also claimed that the $46 billion was intended to fund what it described as “approved national empowerment and development projects.”
The document further stated that the funds had been endorsed for immediate transfer to the beneficiary’s account.
The apex bank, however, rejected the claims and stressed that the purported approval was not genuine.
The CBN’s clarification comes amid the circulation of the document online, with the bank urging the public not to rely on the purported approval as an official communication from the apex bank.
Source: Central Bank of Nigeria
