Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, removed governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has sued President Goodluck Jonathan at the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge his suspension from office.
And he is praying 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 the suit.
He also wants 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 Governor of the CBN and enjoying in full, the statutory powers and privileges attached to the office.
In the suit filed on Sanusi’s behalf by his lawyers led by Kola Awodein (SAN), the court was told that the interlocutory application is necessary because of the issues raised in the suit and that delay may entail irreparable and serious damage and mischief against 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 injunction, 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.
Sanusi said all the possible implications justify the court granting his application “which will result in maintaining status quo ante bellum”, that is, for his return to his office as the CBN Governor.
In the affidavit in support of his application, Sanusi 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 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 alleged that the actions of the President in purporting to suspend him from office was 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 or obtain the support of the Senate, based on his discussions with several Senators, including 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 CBN Act relating to the appointment and removal of the CBN Governor.
He added 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.