CBN Lagos Fire Started From Floor Where Sanusi's Office Is Located

Source: thewillnigeria.com

SAN FRANCISCO, March 25, (THEWILL) - The strange fire that struck the Marina, Lagos office of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday evening (local time), started from the top floor where the Lagos office of the suspended Governor of the bank, Mr.

Lamido Sanusi, is located, witnesses have told THEWILL.

Could the inferno be a ploy to destroy evidence? The fire occurred barely 24 hours before Sanusi and other top executives of the bank are scheduled to appear before investigators at the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, following Sanusi's indictment by the council.

The extent of damage was not clear as at the time of filing this report.

The council has been pouring over the books of the bank and has sent investigators to the Abuja headquarters of the bank.

Also on the radar of FRC investigators is Ms.
Evelyn Oputu, the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, who allegedly diverted billions of naira and real estate belonging to the bank.

THEWILL gathered that the council is particularly examining the controversial forced sale of Intercontinental Bank Plc to Access Bank Plc believed to have been orchestrated by Senator Bukola Saraki and facilitated by Sanusi.

Mr.
Erastus Akingbola, the CEO of the defunct Intercontinental Bank had accused Saraki of forcefully taking over control of the bank.

Curiously, at the time of the shady sale, retired CEO of Access Bank Plc, Mr.

Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede and present CEO, Mr.
Herbert Wigwe, were heavily indebted to Intercontinental Bank to the tune of about N16 billion which was facilitated through United Alliance Company of Nigeria, a company they both jointly controlled.

The loans were reportedly written off with the approval of Sanusi.

Sanusi was suspended by President Goodluck Jonathan a few weeks ago following his indictment for 'financial recklessness and misconduct' by the FRC.

Sanusi has however denied any wrongdoing.
Some analysts have suggested that he was suspended because he blew the whistle on an alleged 'missing $20 billion' proceed from the sale of crude.

The Presidency however insists that Sanusi's suspension had nothing to do with his revelation.