Suspension: Sanusi Goes To Court, Seeks To Return As CBN Governor

Suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi,

has dragged President Goodluck Jonathan before a Federal High Court in

Abuja over his suspension from office, fulfilling his desire to test the

limits of presidential power over incumbent central bank chiefs.

The ousted bank boss is urging the court to restrain the President, the

Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police

from giving effect to his purported suspension from office as the Governor

of the Central Bank of Nigeria, pending the determination of his suit.

He also wants the court to make an order of interlocutory injunction

restraining the defendants from obstructing,disturbing, stopping or

preventing him from in any manner whatsoever from performing the functions

of his office as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and enjoying

in full, the statutory powers and privileges attached to the office of the

governor of Central Bank of Nigeria.
In the suit filed on behalf of the ousted CBN boss by his lawyers led by

Chief Kola Awodein, a senior advocate of Nigeria, Sanusi told the court

that his interlocutory application is necessary because of the issues

raised in the suit and that delay may likely entail irreparable and

serious damage and mischief on him in the exercise of his statutory duties

as the CBN Governor.
He urged the court to exercise its discretion in his favour by granting

the interlocutory injunctions as the President's continuing unlawful

interference with the management and administration of the apex bank,

unless arrested, poses grave danger for Nigeria's economy and justifies

the court granting his application which will result in maintaining status

quo ante bellum, that is, for his return to his office as the Governor of

the CBN.
In the affidavit deposed in support of his application, the suspended CBN

boss 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 theyy affect the revenue of the federation

and the national economy.
He further stated that the actions of President Goodluck Jonathan, in

purporting to suspend him from office, is aimed at punishing him for these

disclosures.
He also 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 further stated that the actions of the President 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 and urged the court, in the interest of justice, to grant his

reliefs.
The suit which was filed late Monday afternoon is still at the Federal

High Court's Registry in Abuja awaiting to be assigned to a judge for

hearing of the suit.
President Jonathan in an interview Monday night argued that he has the

power as the president to suspend the CBN governor. He even described his

power as absolute.
PM News