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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