Suspension: Sanusi withdraws suit against Jonathan, AGF, IGP

By The Citizen
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The Emir of Kano and former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Lamido Sanusi, has discontinued the suit filed against President Goodluck Jonathan, the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police, essentially challenging his suspension from office as CBN governor on February 20, 2014.

The plaintiff had, by a notice of discontinuance, dated July 1, 2014 and filed same day, discontinued the suit against all the defendants in the matter.

The former CBN governor had, in a suit filed against the defendants at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, challenged his suspension as the CBN governor.

In a preliminary objection filed by counsel for the president, Dr Fabian Ajogwu, and counsel for the Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Mike Ozekhome, they prayed the court to decline jurisdiction on the suit, since it was labour-related and, as such, the National Industrial Court 'is the appropriate court to hear it.'

Argument of the counsel for Sanusi, Mr Kola Awodein, that the Federal High Court had jurisdiction was rejected by the court as the judge declined jurisdiction to hear the suit and transferred it to the National Industrial Court.

However, after the case was transferred to the National Industrial Court, instead of striking it out, the president as well as the Attorney General of the Federation, filed separate notices of appeal, challenging the judgment.

On Tuesday, Sanusi, however, filed a notice to discontinue the suit.