Suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has finally sued President
Goodluck Jonathan before a Federal High Court
sitting in Abuja, challenging his suspension from
office.
In a suit filed late Monday by some of his lawyers,
including Kola Awodein (SAN), Sanusi is urging the
court to, among others, restrain the President and
two others from giving effect to his purported
suspension, pending the determination of his suit.
Also to be restrained are the Attorney General of the
Federation (AGF) and the Inspector General of
Police (IGP), sued with the President.
Sanusi is pleading for an order of interlocutory
injunction restraining the defendants from
obstructing, disturbing, stopping or preventing him
in any manner, from performing the functions of his
office and enjoying in full, the statutory powers and
privileges attached to the office of the governor of
the CBN.
He said the interlocutory application he filed with
the suit was necessitated by the issues raised in the
suit.
Sanusi is of the view that delay could occasion
irreparable, serious damage and mischief against
him in the exercise of his statutory duties as the
CBN Governor. He urged the court to grant the
prayers contained in his interlocutory application, on
the ground that the President’s alleged unlawful
interference with the management and
administration of the CBN, unless arrested, posed
grave danger to the country’s economy.
He argued that granting his application will
encourage parties to maintain the status quo,
pending the determination of the substantive case.
In a supporting affidavit, Sanusi averred that in the
course of his duties as the CBN Governor, that he
discovered certain discrepancies in respect of
amounts repatriated to the federation account from
the proceed of crude oil sales between the period of
January, 2012 and July, 2013 and that he expressed
concern in respect of the said discrepancies and had
cause to inform the National Assembly of the said
discrepancies because they affect the revenue of the
federation and the national economy.
He stated that the President’s action, in purporting
to suspend him from office, is aimed at punishing
him for these disclosures.
Sanusi stated that he is challenging the President’s
power to suspend him from office, noting that the
President did not approach nor obtain the support of
the Senate, based on his discussions with several
senators, including Senator Bukola Saraki.
“I have been informed, and I verily believe the
information given to me by Senator Bukola Saraki to
be true and correct that the Senate did not give the
President any support for my purported suspension
and removal from office as the Governor of the
Central Bank of Nigeria.”
Sanusi stated that the President’s actions in
suspending him from office is contrary to provisions
of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act relating to the
appointment and removal of the CBN Governor and
that his purported suspension amounts to unlawful
interference in the administration and management
of the apex bank and is illegal, null and void. He
urged the court, in the interest of justice, to grant
his reliefs.
The suit is yet to be assigned for hearing
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