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Tag: Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

Jonathan cancels Kano trip as police seal off palace

Sanusi gets letter, staff of office

Four feared dead in clash

President Goodluck Jonathan has shelved his planned trip to Kano following the emergence of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as emir.

The police yesterday sealed off the palace, fueling reports of a plot by the Federal Government to stop Sanusi from ascending the throne.

Sanusi got his letter of appointment and staff of office from Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso at Government House yesterday.

The President was expected to pay a condolence visit to Kano yesterday, but the trip, sources said, was cancelled on Sunday night following Sanusi’s emergence.

A source said: “The President wanted to be in Kano on Monday (yesterday) but the emergence of Sanusi and the protests that accompanied it made the President to stay away from any controversy.

“I think the President may find a more auspicious time to be in Kano. He loves the people of the state; he shares their pain on the loss of the late emir.”

It was gathered that the protest that greeted Sanusi’s choice on Sunday was instigated.

A source said one of the contestants for the stool may go to court to challenge Sanusi’s emergence. Yesterday, Sanusi waved the olive branch, urging his fellow contestants to join hands with him in running the emirate.

Some forces are pushing for the maintenance of the status quo once the dispute over the stool is in court to deny Sanusi access to the palace.

The source said: “The police have deployed some of their men in the palace to protect it for security reasons. These policemen were drafted to the palace on Sunday night after the emergence of the new Emir.

“The police said they were acting on intelligence report including the invasion of the Emir’s personal room in the palace by some people who stole some items. They said they are investigating the theft.

“There is however a strong suspicion that the policemen were brought to the place to stop Sanusi from having access to the palace following protests.

“They are under stern instruction not to allow any person, including the new Emir, from entering the palace until all issues surrounding the appointment are resolved.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “The police might have got wind of plans to go to court by some people to stop the installation of Sanusi.

“They said they expect all stakeholders to stick to the status quo.”

Findings also revealed that a tight security ring had been woven around the four kingmakers, Alhaji Yusuf Nabani (Madakin Kano); Alhaji Sarki Abdullahi (Makaman Kano); Alhaji Bello Tuta (Sarki Dawaki Mai-Tuta); and Alhaji Mukhtar Adnan (Sarki Bai).

Another source added: “Some riot policemen have been provided for the kingmakers to protect them from any harm.

“Virtually everyone is besieging the kingmakers to know what really transpired at their session on Saturday and Sunday.

“So, these kingmakers are central to the appointment of a new Emir and aftermath in Kano. This is why they are being protected.”

The plot to stop Sanusi’s installation is believed to have been hatched by some aggrieved princes and bigwigs in Kano.

A third source added: “Those aggrieved have perfected their papers which they would file a court in Kano any moment from now.”

Youths barricaded the gate of the Palace and some streets leading the to the turbaning of Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the new Emir of Kano yesterday.

Fierce-looking soldiers and riot policemen have been drafted to prevent the irate mob from vandalising the Palace.

Some youths said they have been there since Sunday.

“We have been sleeping here for the past two days since the announcement of Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the new Emir by Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso’s government”, they said.

Security men blocked the gate leading to the Palace with their vehicles to prevent the protesters from entering.

Contacted on telephone, Kano State Commissioner of Police Adenrele Shinaba said: “Ours is to take control of security and that is what we are doing.”

The family of the late Emir Ado Bayero is still living inside the Palace contrary to reports that they have been relocated.

Our reporter learnt that four people may have died and several others injured during a clash between Sanusi’s supporters and those who opposed his appointment.

Both groups made bon fires on the road leading to the Emir’s palace and Kofar Nasarawa. The police put out the fire and dispersed the crowd. But they regrouped for another free-for-all.

June 10, 2014
APC accuses PDP of inciting violence in Kano

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of inciting the violence that followed the emergence of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as Emir of Kano last Sunday.

The PDP’s action was an attempt to destabilise the state, APC said.

It urged the Kano State Attorney-General to prosecute all PDP officials involved “in this act of destabilisation”.

In a statement yesterday in Lagos by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC condemned a statement by PDP’s Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh congratulating one of the contenders “long before the Kano State Government announced the new Emir”.

The party said the action was premeditated and calibrated to incite violence.

It wondered why PDP, which has access to Kano or any state government, would rush to the media to congratulate a contender who had not been selected, without even contacting the selecting authority to ensure the veracity of whatever news it might have heard.

“What is so urgent about congratulating the new Emir that could not have waited for a few hours for the appropriate authority to make an official announcement?” APC queried.

The party said when the announcement was eventually made and the contender, who had already been congratulated lost out, “it is only natural that his supporters would feel short-changed”.

APC said: “It is, therefore, obvious that the PDP, through its National Publicity Secretary, went out of its way to stoke the fire of violence in Kano.

“Since we live in a country which is being governed by the rule of law, the best option open to the Kano State Government is for the Attorney-General to immediately initiate criminal proceedings against PDP and its officials for incitement. Whatever explanations they have for their irresponsible and premeditated actions, they should reserve for their defence in court.”

But the PDP said APC’s statement was an attempt to blackmail the ruling party.

Its spokesman, Olisa Metuh, acknowledged that he “made a mistake” on the announcement.

June 10, 2014
Sanusi gets appointment letter

EMIR of Kano Sanusi Lamido Sanusi waved the olive branch yesterday, calling on other contestants to join him in running the emirate.

Speaking after receiving his letter of appointment and staff of office from Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, the emir promised to carry everybody along.

Sanusi, who made his first appearance at the Government House, with members of the Emirate Council, District Heads, and sons of the late Emir Ado Abdullahi Bayero, paying homage to him, urged the people to live in peace and harmony.

He said: “I urge Kano people to always have the fear of God in all their undertakings so that peace and harmony would continue to reign in the state.”

Sanusi said there should be no acrimony after the contest once “there is a winner and a loser.”

The late Emir, he said, was his father, adding that he grew up under his (the late Bayeros’s) tutelage. Sanusi said: “Let me tell you that I am married to the first daughter of the late Emir who is my first wife at home and more so the Turaki Kano, Nasiru Ado Bayero is my bosom brother. We slept together on the same bed for about 10 years and at this time, why should we go against the same family’’.

He promised to be fair and just in carrying out his responsibilities as the father of all, saying: “There is a winner and loser, so the loser should take the outcome of the result in good faith because power is given by God’’

He condoled with the late emir’s family, saying he would continue with the deceased’s good work.

Kwankwaso thanked the people for their understanding and cooperation in Sanusi’s emergence.

He said whatever must have happened, the people should take it as an act of God, referring to speculations that the process was politicised.

‘’I stand to say that such notion is wrong in the sense that three names were presented to me by the four king makers of which some people said the new Emir’s name was not included, let me be categorical, he (Sanusi ) was top on the list and as such, I called the king makers as my witnesses.”

Kwankwaso spoke of the need to take adequate care of the late emir’s family. He donated houses to the family, handing over the keys to the Wali Kano, Alhaji Mahe Bashir Wali.

The Wambai Kano and the Senior Councillor of the Kano Emirate Council, Alhaji Abbas Sunusi, expressed happiness over Sanusi’s appointment.

In a show of support, sons of the late Emir paid homage to Sanusi at the Government House.

June 10, 2014
Sanusi emerged as Emir of Kano

A CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has congratulated former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, for ascending the throne of his forefathers as the Emir of Kano.

In a statement yesterday, the former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president noted that Sanusi was destined to become a monarch.

Akeredolu said Sanusi’s enthronement as the new Emir of Kano, after the demise of the great Alhaji Ado Bayero, “confirms the axiom that nobody can prevent the sun from rising”.

He added: “The fact that this is coming immediately after tenure of office of SLS as governor of CBN, officially, should be a lesson to the ephemeral holders of transient power…

“We must, however, hasten to admonish the new Emir to join other well-meaning Nigerians in the current fight against the Boko Haram insurgents, who are bent on wrecking our collective peace.”

He must cast aside bitter recriminations and destructive anger against his persecutors. His new position must be used to achieve an unprecedented level of peace in the ancient city Kano and Nigeria.

We congratulate the Emir and pray that the Almighty should grant him a peaceful reign and long life.

June 10, 2014
NSCIA, Buhari, Atiku, Akume, others hail Sanusi’s appointment as Emir of Kano

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has congratulated the new Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

The umbrella Islamic organisation described his choice as “God-made”.

A statement yesterday in Abuja by NSCIA’s Secretary-General, Prof Is’haq Oloyede, said “Sanusi’s appointment convinced us that a good choice has been made”.

It noted that Sanusi’s enviable record in public administration and his erudity, especially in Islamic law, was an added advantage for him as the new Emir of Kano.

“NSCIA congratulates Sanusi Lamido Sanusi on his appointment as the new Emir. His reputation as a public social commentator and unequivocal support for the emancipation of the poor and the deprived is well known. His unambiguous programme for the advancement of our great country and nationalistic disposition and clear understanding of contemporary issues and known commitment to God, convinced us that a good choice has been made,” Oloyede said.

The NSCIA spokesman said Nigeria’s Muslim community “wishes His Royal Highness Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, a long, fruitful and productive tenure in the advancement of Kano emirate, the nation and the humanity”.

Former Head of State and chieftain of the All Progressives Party (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has urged the new Emir of Kano, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to join forces with the government in the fight against insurgency in the Northeast.

In a congratulatory letter to the new Emir, Gen. Buhari also advised Sanusi to use his wealth of experience for the economic revival of Kano State and Nigeria.

He urged the new Emir to know that his choice was ordained by Almighty Allah.

The former Head of State advised him to exhibit the fear God and treat Kano residents as his people under his care and supervision.

“You should cultivate all and exclude none,” Buhari said.

The respected statesman recalled that “after attending the burial of the late Emir, Alhaji Ado Bayero, I am renewing my condolences to the new Emir, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, and the people of Kano and the country on the death of Alhaji Ado Bayero.

“I am forwarding my congratulations to you for assuming the office of Emir of this historic land, a position once occupied by great historical figures like Muhammadu Rumfa, Ibrahim Dabo, Abdullahi Bayero and Muhammadu Sanusi. I hope you will be a worthy successor to those great men.”

Also, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar advised Sanusi to build on the enviable legacies of his predecessor, the late Alhaji Ado Bayero.

In a congratulatory statement yesterday, Atiku said the new Emir had worked strenuously to fulfil a life-time ambition.

The former vice president urged the new Emir to unite the ruling houses and Kano residents.

He urged Sanusi to do justice to all the people in his domain, adding that the new Emir’s greatest and immediate challenge is sustaining the late Bayero’s passionate commitment to tolerance, unity and peaceful co-existence.

Atiku wished the new Emir God’s guidance and wisdom for a successful reign.

Senate Minority Leader George Akume yesterday congratulated Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi for his coronation as the new Emir of Kano.

In a congratulatory message by his Special Assistant on Media, Ms Beckie Orpine the distinguished senator said: “It is a thing of immense joy to me, and on behalf of my family and the good people of my constituency, I wish to felicitate with you, the royal family and the Kano Emirate on your coronation as the Emir of Kano.

“Your choice as the Emir of one of the most prestigious Emirates is a mark of your many achievements. It is also an honour well deserved that you are considered for this esteemed position, particularly at a time the nation, especially the North, is in dire need of reorientation and rebirth. “I am aware that you possess the requisite qualities and, therefore, have no doubt over your candidature.

“You have indeed shown that a man can be first in everything he does, and you have been exemplary and a role model to the younger generation, courageous in times of difficulties, transparent and unwavering when others cower in fear. Therefore, it is an honour for me to associate and rejoice with a man of truth and conscience like you at this hour that truly calls for celebration.

“It is my earnest prayers that the Almighty continue to keep you in sturdy health, give you a longer life as well as provide you the strength and wisdom to continue the good work you have undertaken and to lead the Kano Emirate in the direction that it is known for.”

Also, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has congratulated former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, for ascending the throne of his forefathers as the Emir of Kano.

In a statement yesterday, the former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president noted that Sanusi was destined to become a monarch.

Akeredolu said Sanusi’s enthronement as the new Emir of Kano, after the demise of the great Alhaji Ado Bayero, “confirms the axiom that nobody can prevent the sun from rising”.

He added: “The fact that this is coming immediately after tenure of office of SLS as governor of CBN, officially, should be a lesson to the ephemeral holders of transient power…

“We must, however, hasten to admonish the new Emir to join other well-meaning Nigerians in the current fight against the Boko Haram insurgents, who are bent on wrecking our collective peace.”

June 10, 2014
Kwankwaso: we won’t welcome Jonathan to Kano

Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso said yesterday that residents will not welcome President Goodluck Jonathan today.

The governor, who spoke in Kano, said the President has done nothing to improve the standard of living, since he assumed office.

Kwankwaso said: “I regret voting for Jonathan in 2011. He has not done anything to move the nation forward.

“Only a few people are enjoying in Nigeria and this is at the expense of other citizens.

“We are still waiting to hear the truth about the alleged missing funds, which led to the suspension of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

“If someone alleges that N20 million is missing in one of our ministries, I will investigate the matter and if I find the allegation to be true, I must praise the person for a job well done and then take appropriate action.”

He urged the electorate to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015, saying the APC is the most powerful party in Africa.

Kwankwaso accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of buying members over, saying the APC has taken measures to tackle the issue.

The governor appealed to APC supporters to be patient as the party has set up necessary machinery, which would ensure its victory in 2015.

He said those calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to conduct elections in the Northeast have lost focus.

April 15, 2014
Banks’ 2009 stress test in retrospect

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi understood the Nigerian psychology particularly their love to bay for blood. After alerting bank customers that banks were about to collapse and that they would lose their monies if nothing was urgently done, he ordered a stress test on banks. In the end, some bank CEOs were pronounced guilty of stealing depositors’ funds.

This was at a time of global financial crisis. Our stock market had crashed, and Nigerians were genuinely worried about their deposits in banks. Overnight, he became a cult hero of sorts, dealt with the banks as he pleased, and in the end, demonising the system he inherited.

Here is what a respected columnist in one of the nation’s leading daily newspapers wrote at the time: “But towards the end of Soludo’s tenure, rot and lethargy had set in, and horrible insider abuses held sway. Owners, directors, managers and operatives of banks started looting depositors’ funds unchecked.

When Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi arrived in June 2009 as the new CBN Governor, he showcased exploits of a two-edged sword. Coming from risk management background, he sacked a number of errant bank executives. He separated some banks from their founders who committed some of the most monumental acts of thievery on record at that time.

To save the banks from collapse he supported them with public funds and later sold them to new investors. But he also set up the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, (AMCON), to arrest the incidence of non-performing loans in our banks. In other words, he was able to provide the cure to the disease that had set into the banking industry under Soludo…”

How did this columnist come to this conclusion? Based on what Sanusi’s CBN said? Which Editor or Financial Journalist can stand up to say he/she saw the comprehensive report of the audit on banks as we did with the 13-page report of Financial Reporting Council on CBN’s 2012 Accounts? Where in the world (except in Sanusi’s CBN) do you do an external audit of a bank or quoted company and there is no audit query to respond to the examiner’s findings?

The attention of Nigerians should be drawn to a statement credited to the suspended CBN Governor, on November 6, 2009, at the Annual Bankers’ Dinner where he stated that there was no crisis in the nation’s banks since they were still all performing their obligations to customers. He further stated that it was the sacked bank CEOs that were in crisis.

Hard-hitting Renaissance Professionals, the combative group that took on Sanusi had reminded Nigerians that the CBN under Sanusi moved against the eight banks it took over “on the basis of a financial stress test which it claimed to have carried out which showed that these banks were in a bad shape and would collapse if the CBN did not take over their management. The CBN did not make the result of this stress test public. The stress test was carried out by CBN-appointed examiners. No independent review of this stress test was done. What Nigerians know about this stress test and the result is what the CBN has told the public. The public has believed what the CBN says because it is assumed to be true.

However, the public should also note that the former CBN Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo recently wrote an extensive article and while defending his tenure in office, said that before he left office, he conducted a similar stress test on the banking system and the result showed that 65% of the banks in the system had a “satisfactory” rating. He said he stood by the result of this initial stress test of the Nigerian banking industry. We leave it to the public to decide who they want to believe, the current or former CBN Governor.”

They wrote the above piece in 2011.

In fact, on March 30, 2009, then CBN Governor, Professor Soludo gathered captains of industry, media owners and editors, and Bank CEOs, including Sanusi, then First Bank chief executive officer at Eko Hotels, and presented the picture of the nation’s banking industry, problem resolution plans, etc, but urged caution and restraint especially on the part of the media because of the sensitive nature of the industry.

The speech was significant because it was delivered at a time of intense global financial crisis. As the CBN governor at the time of the speech, it was important that he clarified how vulnerable Nigerian banks were to the emerging crisis.

In his speech, Soludo laid bare his evaluation of how exposed Nigerian banks were to the global economic crisis and what the CBN, under him was doing to counter it.

First, he emphasized the fact that “Nigeria cannot afford a bank crisis”. His reason was simple: “The non-deficit part of the FGN budget in 2009 is less than banks’ capital; hence the totality of FGN budget cannot recapitalize the banks if the system should collapse. With the drying up of global finance, and non-bank investing public still nascent, the scope for funding any bank bailout in Nigeria was slim— except by ‘printing money’!”

That was Soludo’s conclusion.

But Soludo did not deny that the Nigerian banking system was under pressure. He however listed the different measures that the CBN under him was taking to ensure that the global banking crisis did not affect Nigerian banks.

But just three months down the line, Sanusi came into office and clamped down on “eight bad Bank CEOs” and Nigerians clapped for him.

In his petition to President Goodluck Jonathan, as published in the media, the former chief executive officer of the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc, Erastus Akingbola stated that “till today no report of the examination has been made available to me, the management, or the Board of the bank. We had no opportunity to learn how the CBN came to its decision, nor were we given an opportunity to respond to the examination report, as is the usual process.”

Akingbola made further allegation concerning how Intercontinental Bank after his removal wrote off a loans to the tune of N8.115 billion, in a bank that they were meant to be rescuing. He also alleged that the banks CBN, under Sanusi took over are yet to receive any examination report from the CBN to show areas of deficiency, and therefore requested that the allegations against him and other bank CEOs should be independently investigated because it is curious “to first send off all management staff before accusing them of wrong doing.”

In the light of the disputable actions during his tenure; his statements with respect to unremitted NNPC’s revenues, and the alleged sleaze in CBN under his tenure, isn’t it time to subject his stress test of banks in 2009 to proper scrutiny?

• Barrister Ehigiator is a Public Affairs Analyst

April 15, 2014
Sanusi gets May 20 verdict date in suspension suit

Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja has fixed May 20 for judgment in the suit by suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

The judge picked the date yesterday after a six-hour legal battle by lawyers to parties in the case. Proceedings began at 11.30 am and ended around 5.30pm.

The court took arguments on both the defendants’ preliminary objection and the substantive case.

Sanusi is challenging his suspension by President Goodluck Jonathan. Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) are co defendants.

Plaintiff’s lawyer, Kola Awodein (SAN) argued that the President lacked the powers to unilaterally suspend the CBN Governor despite his alleged offence.

He argued that the President’s exercise of the executive powers provided in the Constitution was subject to the Act of the National Assembly.

He contended that in this case, the President was expected to exercise his power to remove the CBN governor in accordance with the provision of the CBN Act.

“There is contention that there is no power to suspend the CBN governor under the CBN Act. The ACT in section 7(4) has provided when somebody can act in the place of the CBN governor,” he said.

Awodein argued that the since there is no provision for the suspension of the CBN governor in the CBN Act implies that the President has no powers to suspend the governor.

He further argued that the express mention of one thing is the exclusion of the other, to support his position that the non-reference to suspension in the Act implies that it is not allowed.

“If it was the intention of the law to give the President the power to suspend, it would have expressly provided that,” he said, stressing that the CBN Act has effectively prohibited the President from suspending the governor of the CBN.

He argued that under Section 1(3) of the CBN Act, the bank is made an independent body with the intention of making the bank operationally independent, so that there will not be interference of any sort in its operations, except as permitted under the Act.

Awodein contended even if the President was to exercise control over the bank, which include the suspension of its governor, such must be done with the support of 2/3 majority of the Senate.

He urged the court to hold that his client has made out a proper case for the court to void his suspension.

Responding to the defendants’ objection to the suit, Awodein argued that the defendants misconstrued the plaintiff’s suit.

He contended that the suit simply seeks the court application of its interpretative powers to interprete the provision of the CBN Act vis a vis the action of the President.

Awodein argued that the defendants were in error when argued that the case was employment related and should be struck out.

He argued that as against the position of the defendants, the plaintiff. Is not an employee of the President to have qualified that case as a dispute between an employee and an employer. He said his client is an employee of the CBN,

He urged the court to dismiss the defendants’ objections.

Defence lawyers – Fabian Ajogwu (SAN), Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and Solomon Umoh (SAN) had while arguing the preliminary objections, urged the court to strike out the suit because it was employment related.

They argued the by virtue of Section 254(1)(c) of the Constitution, the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdictional powers to hear the case.

The defence lawyer further argued that the plaintiff’s claims were caught by the exclusivity confered on the National Industrial Court by 4ection 254(1)(a) of the Constitution.

On the main suit, they argued that the suspension of the plaintiff by the President was within his powers. They contended that the CBN was an agency of the Executive arm of the Federal Government, whose powers as contained in Section 5 of the Constitution is vested in the President.

They contended that the plaintiff is a public officer and an employee of the Federal Government by virtue of his appointment, was not immune to the control of the President.

They argued that the President, in suspending Sanusi did not terminate his employment, but merely asked him to step aside to enable the Financial Regulatory Council (FRC) a statutory body, perform it’s it’s role of investigating allegations of procedural and financial breaches raised against him.

The defence lawyers noted that the suspension was intended to enable an unbiased investigation of allegations that Sanusi awarded contract of about N163billion, amounting to 63 per cent in excess of the CBN’s authorised share capital.

They urged the court to hold that the President acted within his powers and dismiss the suit.

Before the commencement of proceedings, the judge denied insinuations that he was under pressure from the defendants in his handling of the case.

There had been rumours that in view of the last victory recorded by Sanusi before a Federal High Court in Lagos, the judge in Abuja was being put under pressure to determine the case in the Abuja FHC against Sanusi

Justice Kolawole yesterday dismissed the insinuations, insisting that he was not under pressure from any of the defendants in the suit.

The judge said he would gladly yield the case to be returned to the Chief Judge for reassignment to another judge if parties in the case were doubting his integrity.

“Is it by the President, or the AGF, or the IG? Is it the Federal Government that is pressurising Justice Kolawole to do a case against a party?

“I am saying this to give the plaintiff the opportunity to go to another court. I have spent several years on the bench and I can tell you that nobody pressurises me – nobody is pressurising Justice Kolawole on this matter.

“I said I will mention this not to create sensation but for anybody who is not comfortable to go to another place.

“If I am being pressurized, it is by my own conscience. None of the parties should be under the impression that I am being pressurized by the Federal Government.”

“Anybody who does not have confidence in Justice Kolawole in this case should go back to the Chief Judge (of the FHC).

“This kind of thing is highly demoralising. You do your best for your country and yet all this kind of things keeps coming up. Must every judge be corrupt?” the judge said.

He noted that if he was unfair to all in the manner he was handling the case, he would not have adopted an accelerated approach by choosing to hear the preliminary objections and the originating summons simultaneously.

In their separate reactions to the judge’s comments, lawyers in the case assured the judge of confidence in him. They said they had never and would not question his integrity and ability to dispense justice to the case.

Sanusi’s lawyer, Kola Awodein, SAN, said he was ready to go ahead with the case before Justice Kolawole.

April 9, 2014
Sanusi learns a big lesson

THE suspended (but in reality, sacked) Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has been under some immeasurable strain lately. Attacked by friends and foes alike, many of whom detested the way he ran the CBN, he has probably started to understand what it means to be a lonely man. It is already clear he cannot find a court in the land to reinstate him, not with the way many Nigerian courts grant unsolicited reliefs. Nor should he expect a let up in the fiery attacks against him masterminded by a deeply resentful presidency whose convoluted interests and favoured aides he had injured by his bold talk and brash acts.

Mallam Sanusi financed terrorism, alleged the federal government and Department of State Security. Even to his enemies, most of whom were glad to see him humiliated, they will find the new allegations far-fetched. But that is the terror of government. Government is so impersonal that once they train their guns on you, it hardly matters whether they prove their often nonsensical allegations or not. What is paramount is that they take you to the showers and punish your ideas and exertions, and make nonsense of your dreams. Therefore, to take on government, even the weakest government, a potential victim needs to be above suspicion, far above the aphoristic Caesar’s wife.

Few know what is on Mallam Sanusi’s mind. Perhaps he would wish he had not taken on NNPC, let alone the cash cow agency’s favoured minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke. Perhaps he would wish he had let bad enough alone after initially goofing statistically. The hugest lesson Mallam Sanusi is probably learning now may not be how difficult it is to fight government, but when and how to keep a dignified silence, the sort of silence dignified by voicing grievances only at the appropriate time.

April 6, 2014
Financial council to quiz Sanusi, Alade, Lemo, Moghalu, Akingbola, 10 others

The Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC) will tomorrow and Thursday question the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; CBN Acting Governor, Dr. Sarah Alade; former CBN Deputy Governor, Operations, Tunde Lemo; CBN Deputy Governor, Operations, Dr. Kingsley Moghalu; and former Managing Director/CEO of the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc, Mr. Erastus Akingbola.

Also to be questioned are the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry (BoI), Ms Evelyn Oputu; CBN Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Alhaji Suleiman Barau; Mr. Babatunde Dayo; Mr. Gabriel Okpeh and Mr. Ezekiel Ejedele.

Also to appear before the FRC hearing panel are the former Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Security, Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC), Mr. Ehi’ E Okoyomon; Alhaji Ahmed Barmali; Mr. Igho Dafinone; the immediate past Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imokhuede; and his successor, Mr. Herbert Wigwe.

While Sanusi, Aalde, Lemo and six others are expected to appear at the interrogation to be held at the FRC head office in Lagos on Thursday at 11 am, Akingbola, Aig-Imoukuede, Wigwe and three others are to appear at the same time tomorrow.

The FRC said in a newspaper advert published yesterday that it is investigating the activities of the CBN for financial years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012. The investigation, the council said, includes related matters arising from transactions and events, which impacted on the 2011 and 2012 from earlier years and have implications for later periods.

“We wish to inform the under-listed persons that the FRC is investigating the activities of the CBN for financial years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012. This investigation includes related matters arising from transactions and events, which impacted on 2011 and 2012 from earlier years and have implications for later periods,” the report said.

The FRC management said letters had been sent to the concerned persons before the current invitation to hearing.

Sanusi was suspended on February 20 by President Goodluck Jonathan for alleged financial recklessness. That was after he said the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had failed to remit $20 billion oil revenue to the Federation Account. He has denied any wrongdoing.

March 26, 2014