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Tag: Sanusi

  • Unremitted $49.8b: We are all guilty – Mark

    Unremitted $49.8b: We are all guilty – Mark

    Senate President, David Mark, on Thursday said the National Assembly was guilty of not carrying out its oversight functions diligently before the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi, raised the alarm.

    Sanusi had accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) of failing to remit $49.8billion oil revenue to the Federation account.

    Mark spoke following the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Finance that investigated the allegation in Abuja.

    The report which has generated much controversy was submitted by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Ahmed Makarfi on May 28.

    Mark commended the committee for presenting a courageous report based on the facts that were presented to it.

    He said the committee was forthright by paying attention to details in the course of their investigation.

    He lamented that the NNPC did not follow due process by disbursing unappropriated funds for subsidy payments.

    He vowed that no matter before the 7th Senate would be swept under the carpet.

    Mark said: “At the inception of the 7th Senate, I did say emphatically that there is no issue in this country that we cannot discuss as respected and distinguished Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “If we have the courage to set up a committee nothing will stop us from taking the report of that committee and nothing will be swept under the carpet in this red chamber.

    “I think what is glaringly from this report is that we are all guilty.  If the committees expected to carry out oversight functions on the NNPC were doing their job very well, we wouldn’t have needed the Governor of Central Bank to ring an alarm bell before reacting.”

  • Suspension: FG doubts Sanusi’s intention to withdraw suit

    Suspension: FG doubts Sanusi’s intention to withdraw suit

    The Federal Government is not convinced about the  sincerity of  the immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Lamido Sanusi, in withdrawing  the suit he filed to challenge his suspension from office.

    Mallam Sanusi   applied to withdraw the suit   following his assumption of office as Emir of Kano.

    Counsel to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), told the court yesterday that although he was not opposed to Sanusi’s decision to file a notice of discontinuance, he was unwilling to withdraw his own pending motion for stay of execution of the judgment by Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on which basis the case was transferred to the National Industrial Court (NIC).

    Ozekhome said he was not sure of  Sanusi’s next move and was unwilling to be taken unaware because the ex-CBN governor was yet to withdraw his appeal against the judgment by Justice Kolawole and the motion for stay of execution of the judgment which he also filed before Justice Kolawole.

    He told Justice Babatunde Adejumo, President of the NIC (the trial judge in the case) that if the plaintiff really meant  business, he should  also discontinue his appeal and the motion for stay of execution pending before Justice Kolawole.

    Sanusi had, shortly after he was suspended on February 20, 2014 by President Goodluck Jonathan, sued, challenging the President’s action and sought to restrain the Inspector General of Police (IGP) from arresting him.

    Defendants in the suit were  President Jonathan, the AGF and IGP. IGP’s name was later struck off the case in a ruling by Justice Kolawole, on the ground that the IGP was not a proper party.

    The suit originally filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja was transferred to the NIC by virtue of Justice Kolawole’s judgment of May 20 this year.

    The judge had held that his court was without jurisdiction to hear the case, which bordered on employment and labour issues.

    Both Sanusi and the AGF appealed Justice Kolawole’s decision to transfer the case.

    The plaintiff, in his appeal, faulted the judge’s decision to transfer the case, arguing that his case was not labour and employment-related.

    The AGF is contending in his appeal that the judge ought to have dismissed the case on realising that he lacked jurisdiction.

    When the case first came up before the NIC on June 13, plaintiff’s lawyer, Mr.Kola Awodein (SAN), sought time to enable him consult with his client on what further steps to be taken; a request that prompted the court to adjourn to yesterday.

    Before yesterday, Sanusi had filed his notice of discontinuance, a development Awodein announced to the court yesterday.

    Shortly after Awodein informed the court about his client’s notice to discontinue the case, Ozekhome said although he was not opposed to the plaintiff’s intention, he would prefer that his pending motion for stay of execution be sustained until he receives further instruction from his client.

    He said before the last date and yesterday, further steps have been taken in respect of the plaintiff’s appeal. He added that the plaintiff’s motion for stay of proceedings was still pending before the Federal High Court.

    Ozekhome said although he chose not to oppose the plaintiff’s notice to discontinue, because it was within his (plaintiff’s) right, he needed time to confer with the AGF on what next step he should take in respect of his pending motion before the court.

    Lawyer to the President, Mathew Echo, was indifferent. He did not object to Sanusi’s discontinuation notice, and refrained to comment on Ozekhome’s position in relation to the pending motions and appeals.

    Ruling, Justice Adejumo struck out the substantive case on the ground that the plaintiff had filed a notice of discontinuance under Order 19 Rule 17 of the NIC Rules.

    He however adjourned hearing to November 7 on the pending motion for stay of execution of Justice Kolawole’s judgment.

    Justice Adejumo, relying on the provision of Section 20 of the NIC Act, implored parties to further explore ways of ensuring that the case was eventually settled amicably.

  • Sanusi’s suspension: Judge preaches amicable settlement

    The President of the National Industrial Court (NIC) Justice Babatunde Adejumo, on Friday advised President Goodluck Jonathan, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Lamido Sanusi to explore an amicable settlement of the dispute caused by Sanusi’s suspension from office.

    Justice Adejumo gave the advice at the resumed hearing of the suit filed by Sanusi to challenge the propriety of his suspension from office by President Jonathan prior to the expiration of his tenure.

    President Jonathan suspended Sanusi on February 20 following which he sued the President, the AGF and IGP at the Federal High Court, Abuja, challenging his suspension and seeking to restrain the defendants from arresting and prosecuting him.

    Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja declined jurisdiction over the case and transferred it to the NIC. Parties were expected to argue their applications for stay of proceedings on Friday only for plaintiff’s lawyer, Kola Awodein (SAN) to inform the court of his intention to consult his client before taking any further steps in the case.

    Awodein noted that between the last date and Friday, some developments have occurred relating to the plaintiff to necessitate his lawyers taking further instructions from him. He applied for time to enable him consult with his client.

    Lawyers to the defendants, including Mike Ozekhome (SAN) did not object to Awodein’s application. He acknowledged being informed, before the court’s proceedings, of the plaintiff lawyer’s desire for time to consult with his client.

    Before adjourning, Justice Adejumo said he would adjourn for parties to seek ways of ensuring an amicable settlement in the case.  He said unlike any other conventional courts, his court was mandated to encourage disputing parties to ensure amicable settlement.

    “I will strongly commend, by virtue of the provision of this court’s establishment Act, that parties seek amicable way of resolving this dispute. In industrial and employment relations the court is not concern about the consequence of its pronouncement on parties alone, but on the entire society.

    “In consulting with their clients, counsel should know what to say to contribute to the effort to ensure amicable settlement,” Justice Adejumo said.

  • Sanusi emergence as emir act of God – ACF

    The pan northern socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Thursday asked the people of Kano to stop the protest against the appointment of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the new Emir and accept the appointment as will of God.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the Forum, Mohammed Ibrahim, said in a congratulatory message made available to The Nation in Kaduna that the appointment was an act destined by Allah who gives power.

    The Forum asked the new Emir to bring his wealth of experience to bear in the development of Kano and see his new position as the father of all the people of Kano and by extension, Nigerians resident in the state.

    The statement reads: “Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) hereby congratulates the new Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi on his appointment as the new Emir of Kano after the demise of Alhaji Ado Bayero.

    “The selection of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the new Emir by the Kano emirate king makers was an act destined by Allah who alone gives leadership to whosoever He wishes. May Allah give the new Emir the wisdom and courage to see this new position as the father of Kano people and by extension Northerners and Nigeria at large.

    “The new Emir should therefore bring his wealth of experience, competence and exposure to bear in uniting the royal family members and people of Kano for a peaceful transition and continuation of the good legacies of late Ado Bayero.

    “ACF has an unflinching regard and respect to the traditional institutions as peace stabilizers, custodians of our core values, culture and customs, we therefore calls on HRH Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to uphold the sanctity of the institution and consider his appointment as a rare opportunity to serve his people in this new capacity. We pray that Almighty Allah will protect and guide him and also bless his reign with peace, unity and development.

    “The traditional institution of Kano is highly revered and respected not only by Kano people (Kanawas) but all Nigerians and even beyond our shores because of its rich cultural heritage and accommodation of all manners of people irrespective of their religious, political and tribal inclinations.”

  • Sanusi and the war against terror

    Sanusi and the war against terror

    Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has pitched himself straight into the front line of the battle against the Islamist insurgents, notorious for holding more than 200 kidnapped schoolgirls, by being newly anointed Emir of Kano, writes
    The Telegraph of UK

    Nigeria’s former central bank governor, who lost his job for speaking out against the country’s endemic corruption, has rid himself of his flamboyant pinstripes and bow tie to take up the reins of an even tougher challenge – that of turning the tide against Boko Haram.

    Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has pitched himself straight into the front line of the battle against the Islamist insurgents, notorious for holding more than 200 kidnapped schoolgirls, by being newly anointed Emir of Kano, spiritual head of the largest sect of Muslims in the insurgent wracked north of Nigeria.

    Mr Sanusi, who cut a swathe through the conference rooms of high finance, used his first appearance in the Emir’s high domed turban and long robes to join the international appeal for the girls safety.

    Standing surrounded by the Islamic elders and princes who had backed his succession to the title held by his uncle Ado Bayero since 1963, Mr Sanusi held up a placard pleading for the girls freedom. The handwritten sheet of paper said: “#Bring back our girls.”

    Michele Obama, the US first lady, Prime Minister David Cameron, a host of celebrities and millions of social media users around the world have posted the same slogan as part of a campaign to secure the release of the girls from Boko Haram’s clutches.

    The girls, thought to number up around 220 in all, were abducted from a boarding school in the remote town of Chibok in north-east Nigeria on April 14.

    Nigeria’s government has so far failed to find the girls, some of whom may have already been married off to Boko Haram’s followers and others are thought to have be spirited across the border to Cameroon.

    An al-Qaeda ally, Boko Haram has waged a violent war across northern Nigerian to shut down secular schools and impose its strict Islamic regime.

    The former Emir had been an outspoken opponent of the sect but its influence grew as his advancing age and illness took hold.

    Second only in stature among Nigeria’s Muslim rulers to the Sultan of Sokoto, the new emir has the chance to reinvigorate the effort to reverse Boko Haram’s advances.

    William Squire, a former diplomat who began a distinguished Foreign Office career as a district officer in northern Nigeria, said enlisting traditional religious leaders was an effective strategy for political leaders seeking to undermine Boko Haram.

    “Politicians have neglected the old traditional rulers of northern Nigeria, who remain an important element in society. Speaking to his office, the emir of Kano has influence rather than power. With his feet in two worlds given his recent experience at the bank of Nigeria, Sanusi is well placed to be an asset for good in the north,” said Mr Squire.

    However the ex-governor’s poor relationship with Nigeria’s president, Goodluck Jonathan has overshadowed his election.

    Mr Jonathan suspended Mr Sanusi as Nigeria’s central bank governor in February, just months after the dapper figure had been put on the cover of Forbes magazine as Africa’s greatest central banker. The president accused him of “various acts of financial recklessness and misconduct”.

    Mr Sanusi was sacked after declaring there had been a £20 billion deficit in receipts from the state oil company to the Nigerian state. The governor said the money had been siphoned off in political corruption under Mr Jonathan’s leadership.

    Reports in the Nigerian press yesterday said that Mr Jonathan had retaliated against backers of the emir by preventing their private jet from taking off from Kano International Airport on Sunday night.

    The president’s political party was also blamed for a riot in which hundreds of youths ransacked streets around the royal palace following news of the succession.

    Fears that friction between the president and the new emir triggered warnings that the security of Kano could be even more fragile following the succession.

    “Boko Haram targets Kano precisely because they know it’s the commercial nerve centre of the north,” said Kennedy Emetulu, a London-based political commentator.

    “Crippling Kano is crippling the north.”

    Local analysts believe the new leader will seek to adhere to his traditional role.

    “The Emir of Kano is seen as the father of all, more or less like a spiritual leader. He’s not particularly political. He’s supposed to be seen as a father figure to everybody, irrespective of tribe or religion, who lives in Kano,” Aliyu Yusuf, a resident of Kano, said.

    If one anecdote from a British consultant who worked with the central bank is anything to go by, Mr Sanusi already knows the limitations that Nigeria’s terrorist threat imposes on even if highest ranking citizens. After inviting the consultant on a safari in the north, Mr Sanusi was advised the trip could not be sanctioned. “Mr governor, your insurance does not stretch that far,” the aide said.

  • ‘Sanusi’s appointment not nullified’

    ‘Sanusi’s appointment not nullified’

    Kano State Commissioner for Information Danburam Abubakar Nuhu dismissed yesterday rumours that the appointment of Malam Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano has been nullified.

    Speaking to reporters in Kano yesterday, Nuhu urged the public to disregard the rumour and go about their business.

    He urged them to accept Sanusi’s emergence as the will of God.

    The commissioner said the appointment followed due process, adding that all necessary consultations were made by the four kingmakers in the emirate.

    He described the appointment as well deserved and the most suitable option, when compared with the other contenders.

    Nuhu described the Emir as a man of integrity and prudence as proven in all the establishments he worked throughout his professional career.

    The commissioner said with the dynamism of today’s world, Sanusi is the most suitable to occupy the stool, coupled with additional advantage of his vastness in both western and Islamic education.

    He expressed optimism that with Sanusi’s unique qualities, he has no doubt that he will take the emirate higher.

  • ‘Sanusi’s appointment not nullified’

    Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

    Kano State Commissioner of Information, Dr. Danburam Abubakar Nuhu, on Wednesday dismissed as false speculations, reports that the appointment of Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as Emir of Kano has been nullified.

    Speaking to reporters in Kano, Nuhu urged members of the public to disregard the rumour and go about their normal business, urging them to accept the emergence of Sanusi as Emir of Kano in good fate, as it is the will of God.

    According to him, Sanusi’s emergence as Emir followed due process because necessary consultations were made by the four Kingmakers of the Emirate Council.

    He described Sanusi’s appointment as not only well deserved but the most suitable when compared to other three contenders.

    The commissioner also described the new Emir as man of integrity and prudence as proven in all the establishments he worked throughout his professional career.

     

  • Suspension: Jonathan, AGF, Sanusi object to NIC’s hearing of ex-CBN gov’s suit

    Suspension: Jonathan, AGF, Sanusi object to NIC’s hearing of ex-CBN gov’s suit

    President Goodluck Jonathan, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Lamido Sanusi, have asked the National Industrial Court (NIC) not to hear Sanusi’s suit transferred to it by Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    Their position is contained in separate applications for stay of proceedings they filed before the NIC. They urged the court not to commence hearing in the suit, but to stay proceedings and allow the Court of Appeal, Abuja decide the appeals they filed.

    The President, AGF and Sanusi are appealing the May 20 judgment by Justice Kolawole, in which he declined jurisdiction over the suit by Sanusi. Sanusi is, by the suit, challenging his suspension by President Jonathan as Governor of the CBN.

    While Sanusi is insisting that it was the Federal High Court alone that could hear his case, the President and AGF are of the view that Justice Kolawole, having declined jurisdiction to hear the case, was without jurisdiction to transfer it to another court. They said the judge should have either struck it out or dismiss the suit.

    Yesterday, their lawyers, Mike Ozekhome SAN) (for the AGF), Mathew Echo (for the President) and Chima Okereke (for Sanusi) were unanimous in urging Justice Babatunde Adejumo not to proceed with the case.

    Ozekhome told the court that parties have appealed the decision by the Federal High Court to transfer the case, and that they have also filed applications for stay of proceedings pending appeal.

    “All the parties have filed notices of appeal and have also applied for stay of proceedings before this court. We are of the view that this court should stay proceedings. That this court should not proceed with the case until the Court of Appeal decides it,” Ozekhome said.

    Okereke also told the court that his client, having been dissatisfied with Justice Kolawole’s ruling, has appealed and “wants this court to stay proceedings.”

    He said it was his client’s contention that the Federal High Court possessed the jurisdiction to hear his case because it is not about employment or labour dispute.

    Echo confirmed that the President has equally appealed the ruling on the grounds that the judge of the Federal High Court erred when he transferred the case having held that he lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case.

    Justice Adejumo refused Ozekhome’s oral application for stay, and insisted that parties should argue their pending applications for stay to enable the court decide it one way or the other. The judge said the mere filing of appeal by parties was not sufficient for the court to stay proceedings.

    “Section 47 of the Act establishing this court says appeal shall not serve a stay of proceedings before this court. Since this matter has been transferred to this court by a court of coordinate jurisdiction, I cannot sit on appeal over its order.

    “It is until the Court of Appeal comes up with an order directing a stay before we can stay proceedings. Come and argue your applications for stay of proceedings now pending before this court. You will also address me on the provision of Section 47 of the NIC Act because this court cannot stay proceedings until the Court of Appeal orders a stay,” the judge said.

    He told parties about his desire to accord the case an expeditious hearing in view of the fact that time was of the essence in the case. He said that because Sanusi’ tenure will soon expire, it was necessary for the court to approach the case with dispatch.

    Upon the agreement by parties, Justice Adejumo adjourned to June 13 for the hearing of their application for stay of proceedings.

  • Jonathan, AGF, Sanusi fault verdict on suit

    Jonathan, AGF, Sanusi fault verdict on suit

    President Goodluck Jonathan; the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, have faulted the May 20 judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

        The suspended CBN governor filed the suit against the Federal Government.

    They have taken steps to have the judgment set aside by filing separate notices of appeal before the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

    Sanusi, by the suit, challenged his suspension from office by the President and sought to restrain the AGF and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) from arresting and prosecuting him.

    The trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, held that his court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the suit.

    Relying on the provisions of Order 56 Rule 3 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2009 and Section 24(3) of the National Industrial Court (NIC) Act, 2006, the judge transfered the case to the NIC for determination.

    The President, AGF and Sanusi are, by their separate notices of appeal, challenging Justice Kolawole’s decision to transfer the case to the NIC. They all want the Appellate Court to set aside the trial court’s judgment.

    President Jonathan and the AGF are of the view that since they had argued that the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case, the proper order Justice Kolawole bought to make was to strike out the suit or dismiss it.

    They averred that the trial court, having agreed with them that it lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case on the ground that it was related to labour dispute, equally lacked the power to exercise the jurisdiction it lacked, in transferring the case.

    Sanusi, who raised about 20 grounds of appeal, argued that the court erred in declining jurisdiction and transferring his case to another court.

    He restated his argument that his case was not a master-servant dispute, to qualify it as a labour-related conflict.

    Sanusi, among others, faulted the reasoning of the trial judge and argued that instead of the decision of Justice Kolawole, he was not an employee of the Federal Government, and as such, his case could not be a labour-related dispute.

    Also, the NIC has fixed today for hearing in the suit upon its transfer from the Federal High Court.

    The court has issued hearing notices to the parties, who are expected to be in court today.

  • Court rules on Sanusi’s suspension Tuesday

    A Federal High Court in Abuja is expected to give its verdict on Tuesday in the suit filed by the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Lamido Sanusi.

    Sanusi ischallenging his suspension by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Justice Kabriel Kolawole chose Tuesday for judgment after entertaining arguments from parties in the case on April 8. The court took arguments on both the defendants’ preliminary objection and the substantive case.

    Listed with the President as defendants are – the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

    Represented by Kola Awodein (SAN), Sanusi’s contention is that the President lacked the powers to unilaterally suspend the Governor of the CBN despite his alleged offence.

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

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

    Sanusi argued that since there is no provision for the suspension of the CBN governor in the CBN Act, it implies that the President has no powers to suspend the apex bank’s governor.

    He further 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.

    Sanusi contended that 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 said his client has made out a proper case for the court to void his suspension.

    In their counter-argument, the defendants insisted 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.