The plot firther intensifies. The suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has dragged President Goodluck Jonathan before a Federal High Court in Abuja over his suspension from office.
Sanusi was suspended by Jonathan last Thursday over alleged involvement in financial recklessness.
In the suit, the suspended apex 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 CBN, pending the
determination of his suit.
He also asked the court to make an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants
from obstructing, disturbing, stopping or preventing him, in any manner
whatsoever, from performing the functions of his office as the CBN
governor and enjoying in full the statutory powers and privileges
attached to the office.
One of the lead lawyers to Sanusi, Chief Kola Awodein (SAN), 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 the 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,
he discovered certain discrepancies in respect of amounts repatriated to
the federation account from the proceeds 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 further stated that the actions of President Jonathan, in purporting
to suspend him from office, are 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 the 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 to, in the interest of justice, grant his reliefs.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit while the matter,
which was filed yesterday afternoon, is yet to be assigned to a judge
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