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Tag: suspension

  • PDP faults suspension of Ondo supplementary poll

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has criticised the suspension of the planned supplementary election in Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    In a statement by its Publicity Director, Mr. Ayo Fadaka, the PDP said: “It was with shock and disbelief that we learnt of INEC’s indefinite postponement of the supplementary election in deference to a court action instituted by the Labour Party (LP) to forestall the conclusion of an election that it is obvious they are going to lose.

    “INEC’s action represents a betrayal of the trust and fairness expected of an unbiased umpire that ordinarily must maintain neutrality. It has merely acquiesced to the demand and dictate of its ally, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, by declaring this unjustified intention to assist the LP in its quest to frustrate the emergence of a representative for that constituency.

    “We make these assertions in view of the fact that in other places INEC conducted elections not withstanding litigations against such elections, and to buttress this claim we refer to Agbaso vs INEC, PDP and Ohakim vs INEC.

    “It is pertinent to underscore the fact in the cited instances, INEC relied on the provisions of Section 87, subsection 10, which empowers it not to subject already declared elections to litigation, thereby empowering it to disregard frivolous litigations that may be prosecuted to disturb, delay or frustrate it in the execution of its duties.”

    Urging INEC to begin plans for the supplementary poll, the PDP said: “Any other action aside this will leave us with no other impression than that INEC has been compromised, bought and absolutely acquired by Mimiko.

    “We recall that in respect of this same election, the REC, at a time, echoed the frustration of the LP in relation that the Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro, came to campaign for the PDP here. Thus, this latest action constitutes the second instance that INEC has seen developments from the LP’s prism.”

  • The legality of Agumagu’s suspension

    The legality of Agumagu’s suspension

    Despite the criticism of its  action by some lawyers, the National Judicial Council (NJC) insists that it took the right step by suspending Rivers State Chief Judge Justice Peter Agumagu.  In this article, Mr. Ahuraka Isah, media aide to the  Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and NJC  Chair,  Justice Aloma Mukhtar, defends the NJC’s action.  He also calls for the review of Section 271 of the Constitution  to give NJC the power to hire and fire judges.

    On March 18, this year, the Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi swore in Justice Agumagu as the Chief Judge of the state.

    On March 25, the National Judiciary Council (NJC) held an emergency meeting and took a decision suspending Agumagu. He was also queried to explain why he should not be removed from office as a judicial officer.

    The council in taking these decisions found Agumagu’s action in accepting the offer of appointment as a chief judge to be unconstitutional. His action, the council said, amounted to a gross misconduct on the grounds that the swearing in contradicted Section 271 of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulated that the appointment of a substantive chief judge of any state mandatorily, required the recommendation of the council. As a judicial officer vested with the responsibility to interpret the constitution and other statutes Agumagu should know that he cannot be sworn in as Rivers State Chief Judge in the absence of NJC’s recommendation.

    In order to forestall anarchy, the council had to take preliminary step to stop the descent into judicial anarchy.

    The question is, can Governor Amaechi suo moto or solely appoint a chief judge under any condition without the recommendation of the council? The answer is no. While swearing in Agumagu, Amaechi praised a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt for declaring that the nomination of Agumagu for substantive chief judge’s appointment was in order when he stated that: “Today, we recognise and accept in totality, the judgment of the Federal High Court and we say to you, congratulations.’’

    Taking the same question the other way round, can the court declaration become a substitute for NJC’s recommendation? The answer is in the negative. In appointing a chief judge, three conditions must be fulfilled. First, ýNJC must recommend the judge, the governor must accept the recommendation and the state’s house of assembly must ratify. When any of these is missing, the appointment will be in complete. Why did Governor Amaechi take Agumagu’s appointment to the Rivers State’s House of Assembly? He could as well have dispensed with the House just as he did with the NJC.

    Besides, the so-called Federal High Court  sitting in Port Harcourt he relied upon didn’t make any consequential order, neither did the presiding judge, Justice Lambo Akanbi ordered the swearing in of Justice Agumagu as the chief judge. According to an Abuja base legal practitioner, Alasa Ismail, the judge ought to know that the council’s input, call it a recommendation or whatever can’t be traded for anything. If it is not available, no judge worth his or her salt ought to agree to be sworn in by any state governor.

    ’’What a reasonable man ought to do after the court’s pronouncement and the subsequent resolution of the State House of Assembly rejecting the council’s recommendation is to advice the state governor and even insist to re-present him or her to the council. Doing otherwise amounts to violation of the provision of the constitution and a gross misconduct of the highest order, especially coming from a judicial officer placed on the position to interpret and protect the same constitution’,’ Alasa said. On whether the NJC is right when it placed Agumagu on suspension before issuing him a query to defend his action, we are of the view that the decision is legally sound on the authority of the Public Civil Service Rules.

    Rules No. 030406 of the Public Civil Service Rules (2008 Edition) as contained in the Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette No.57 of August 25, 2009, vol.96 (Government Notice N0.278) states: ‘’Suspension shall apply where a prima facie case, the nature of which is serious, has been established against an officer and it is considered necessary in the public interest that he/she should forthwith be prohibited from carrying out his/her duties pending investigation into the misconduct.’’ The NJC viewed the doing of an unconstitutional act (in the instant case, acceptance of the post of a chief judge without recommendation by NJC) as a serious breach of the constitution. The council is also of the view that it is in the public interest to suspend him. As a chief judge, he sits at the top of the state’s machinery for dispensing justice. Great injustice will be done if he is allowed to illegally act as chief judge. ýAs the chief judge of a state, his responsibility includes posting judges to different divisions of the court and assigning cases to judges including himself, in other words, he will preside over some matters too. But it is trite law that ‘’you can’t place something on nothing’’. It follows that any actions he takes while acting illegally ýare liable to be struck down as a nullity. What is at stake is more than a mere appointment. NJC had to act to stop a catastrophe.

    According to NJC, the appointment of Agumagu as chief judge runs contrary to the provisions of Section 271 of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulates that a state governor must appoint a Chief Judge “on the recommendations of the NJC.” The swearing-in of Agumagu by Governor Amaechi is a fait acompli. Since any action that offends the provisions of the constitution is a nullity, so the bye-products of the same action.

    If Agumagu’s appointment as chief judge without the council’s recommendation is a nullity, whatever he does on the seat including cases he assigns to other judges, posting of judges to courts and the judgments he delivers while on that seat are null and void.

    NJC, which is chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria and constituted by other justices of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, some chief judges of High Courts, retired judges and some senior members of the bar should be capable of estimating the collateral damage Agumagu’s swearing is capable of causing the judiciary.

    According to an Irish statesman and a former member of the House of Commons of Great Britain, Edmund Burke, who warned that ’’the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing’’.

    It will amount to an abdication of its constitutional duty if the council sits by and allow the judiciary to be plunged into anarchy.

    Invariably, Agumagu’s suspension was meant to arrest or prevent judicial anarchy.

    The council also relied on its powers as provided by the constitution to suspend Agumagu when it stated in its press release dated March 26, 2014, signed by the acting director of NJC that, “In the meantime, Council in exercise of its powers under paragraph 21 (d) of Part 1 of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, has suspended Justice P. N. C. Agumagu from office as a judicial officer with immediate effect.”

    Until a competent court holds otherwise, the council rightly in our view believes that it has the power to suspend a judicial officer. The council relied on these powers when on August 18, 2010 it suspended a former Court of Appeal president, Justice Ayo Isa Salami (now retired) from office for alleged breach of his oath of office.

    NJC fell back on the same laws to suspend Justice Abubakar Talba on April 26, 2013 following the findings by the council that he did not exercise his discretion judicially and judiciously with regard to the sentences he passed on Mr. John Yakubu Yusuf who was on trial for embezzling N30 billion police pension.

    The Supreme Court of Nigeria had in the case of  Elelu Habeeb v. Attorney General of the Federation held that the removal of the then chief judge of Kwara state by the governor without the recommendation of NJC as illegal and unconstitutional. Justice Mahmoud Mohammed (JSC) stated in the said case that  ”As the say goes, power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. If the Governor alone is allowed to in exercise of his executive power appoint directly, and discipline judicial officers of his state, this may, no doubt, lead to avoidable corruption and prevent judicial officers from carrying out their functions freely and without any intimidation by the executive. Judicial officers may become stooges of the Governor of the State for fear of been removed from oft ice unceremoniously’’.

    In 2010, stake holders in the judiciary took the view that NJC was wrong when it recommended Salami’s suspension to the President for his approval. They were of the view that the council needed not the President’s approval to suspend or recall a judicial officer from suspension. The council, under the leadership of the present CJN, rightly in our view believed that the council did not require the executive’s approval to suspend a judge.

    Therefore, the council was right when it suspended Talba without seeking the President’s approval.

    Today, the same stakeholders argued that NJC was wrong for suspending Agumagu without recourse to Amaechi’s approval. What was good for Talba should be good for Agumagu, so the ageless African wisdom dictates.

    It is inconceivable that those who appropriated the benefits of purposeful and independency of the judiciary would resort to some means with intent to undermine it. If NJC had been partisan in the past, and at present it would have been difficult if not impossible for Amaechi for example to become a governor talk more of sustaining his seat till date. Perhaps, the drafters of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria underestimated the extent the presidency and state governors would attempt to undermine the principles of separation of power amongst three arms of government and autonomy of the judiciary when Section 271 of the Constitution was enacted.

    It is quite apparent that this section of the constitution has to be reviewed to give the NJC absolute power to hire and fire judges in addition to the power to evaluate performances of the same judicial officers. This also calls for proper protection and preservation of the much needed judicial autonomy and independence in the system by ensuring strict implementation of the first line charge to Federation Account for the judicial funding.

    A situation, for example, where a state House of Assembly declares that certain judicial officers are not fit and proper for appointment to the position of chief judge of the state appears laughable because the legislatures are not in a position to assess which judicial officer is qualified for appointment.

  • Sanusi’s suspension and allied matters

    SIR: The manner of the suspension of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria contravenes due process. And the reasons adumbrated by the Presidency are disjointed. The avalanche of diverse legal and political arguments for and against the appropriateness of the suspension is neither here nor there. What is germane is the President’s pronouncement in his recent media chat that he has absolute power to suspend the CBN Governor or anybody! Was it not in this democracy that the former President Obasanjo unilaterally suspended his deputy, Atiku.

    How was it possible for President Jonathan to usurp the powers of the judiciary in approving an absurd suspension of a President of Court of Appeal and the judiciary itself could no longer reinstate the PCA when it deemed it necessary? Aren’t there supposed to be separation of powers, and checks and balances between the executive, National Assembly (NASS) and judiciary?

    Are the NASS and Judiciary ever able to have any influence or control over the executive? Is the Federal Executive Council not equal to the President? Which minister or any other cabinet member can tell the President home truths? Even the VP dares not look at his boss in the eye and tell him what he doesn’t want to hear! Can’t the President decide not to have a cabinet for as long as it suits him?

    Nigerian President is simply too powerful to share governmental power with anybody! Please blame not the President but the constitution! No country has perfect constitution but ours is full of fundamental flaws, lacunae, loopholes, anomalies, inconsistencies and ambiguities. These fatal weaknesses subject the constitution to gross subjective manipulations and blatant misinterpretations. The situation where the President alone appoints people or recommends people for appointment as heads of all government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) is out of sync with our socio-cultural and political orientation.

    It is worrying that a particular qualified and competent professor can’t become a Vice Chancellor of a Federal University if the President doesn’t like their face – it doesn’t matter if the professor is the choice of the university. Likewise, a particular qualified and competent candidate can’t become the rector of a state polytechnic if the governor has their own preferred candidate – it won’t matter if the candidate is the best for the position. Like Sam Omatseye opined “The governor in Nigeria is like a monarch, just as the president is like an emperor”. Lord Acton quipped “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. “Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it”, said William Pitt the Elder.

    A piece of information: In the case of Atiku versus Obasanjo, the Federal High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court ruled that the President can’t suspend a public officer he has no power to sack. Now that the President has said he has absolute power to fire anybody, does it mean he can unilaterally suspend the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) without recourse to the Senate, during a general election or when the chairman is about to announce election results? While the constitution is an albatross around the country’s neck, the presidential system of government is the bane of the polity. Hence the adoption of a brand new constitution and a Nigerianised parliamentary democracy are vitally important for the country sooner rather than later.

    • Engr Yomi Akinola,

    Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke

  • Sanusi’s suspension, CBN’s direction raise investors’ anxiety

    Sanusi’s suspension, CBN’s direction raise investors’ anxiety

    • Investors scurry for exit  as stock market tumbles

    The suspension of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Gov ernor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and the nomination of Zenith Bank’s Managing Director, Godwin Emefiele, as new CBN governor could raise investors’ anxiety and trigger capital flight as investors readjust their portfolios to reflect their concerns about macroeconomic and political risks.

    The Nigerian stock market, which had witnessed sustained rally since Monday, suffered a major reversal yesterday as the announcement of the suspension of the CBN governor hit the market. Aggregate market value of all quoted equities dropped by N187 billion with the benchmark index indicating a daily average loss of 1.47 per cent. Most analysts blamed the downtrend at the stock market on the development at the apex bank.

    Managing Director, Cowry Asset Management Limited, Mr. Johnson Chukwu, said the circumstances surrounding the suspension of the CBN governor and the lack of clarity on the economic and policy orientation of Emefiele may be reasons for financial market instability.

    According to him, any keen observer of the Nigerian social-political environment would not be surprised that President Goodluck Jonathan has taken action against the person of the Sanusi, given his recent comments on some economic and political issues. But the challenge is how the Nigerian financial markets will react to his suspension, whether the market will recognise that Sanusi’s exit was imminent as his tenure was supposed to end in June or the market will consider his removal as a breach of CBN’s autonomy and independence.

    He said: “I believe that most market operators had factored in the fact that Sanusi’s leaving could lead to some adjustments in monetary policies. The issue to investors in the Nigerian market will be the nature of his exit and whether it has undermined CBN independence. Another factor that will be of concern to Investors is the economic and policy orientation of the newly nominated CBN Governor and his pedigree as an independent minded person.”

    According to him, given that Emefiele was not given to making public comments, it may be difficult for investors to place his personality and economic philosophy.

    “These two factors – an affront on CBN autonomy and lack of clarity on Emefiele’s economic policy orientation may be the reasons for financial market instability with possible exit of some foreign portfolio investors, depletion of Nigeria’s foreign reserves, pressure on naira exchange rate and increase in fixed income yield in the next couple of days and weeks,” Chukwu said.

    Emerging market strategist, Standard Bank, Samir Gadio, said Sanusi’s suspension came as a shock to the market, even though there were indications that his relationship with the Presidency had deteriorated in recent months.

    “Perhaps his persistent criticism of Nigeria’s opaque oil revenue management and allegations of unremitted NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation) oil proceeds made him a public enemy of the political elite. Yet Sanusi’s suspension is a disruptive move which indicates that the CBN has de facto lost much of its independence,” London-based Gadio stated in response to enquiry by The Nation.

    According to him, while the acting CBN Governor Sarah Alade has stressed that she was committed to macroeconomic stability and would like to minimise foreign exchange volatility, the risk is that this development will compound upside risks to foreign exchange by precipitating ongoing foreign exit and reinforcing the negative domestic positioning against the naira. While the foreign exchange market froze this morning, the initial quotes post-announcement were initially already around 166-168.

    He expressed worry that the pace of decline in foreign reserves will probably accelerate, and in the absence of sharp monetary tightening, which had been suggested earlier, it is questionable how long current foreign exchange levels can be sustained.

    “Foreign investors are likely to sell Nigerian assets more actively in coming days subject to market liquidity constraints. So far Treasury bill and bond quotes are not really being shown by onshore brokers (or the bid-ask spreads are quite wide) which is typical of Nigerian capital markets during periods of pronounced stress. That said, we see yields moving higher in the near term, with the magnitude of the sell-off at the long end potentially being partially mitigated by the bid from domestic pension funds at a later stage,” Gadio added.

    As market capitalisation of equities tumbled from N12.655 trillion to close at N12.468 trillion, market analysts said the stock market was witnessing investment reversals induced by the suspension of the CBN governor.

    Aggregate market value of all equities at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) had opened this week at N12.427 trillion and built up successively to N12.528 trillion, N12.530 trillion and N12.655 trillion on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday respectively. The main index at the NSE-the All Share Index (ASI), which serves as the country index for Nigeria, had also sustained steady rally prior to the reversal on Thursday. ASI opened at 38,767.29 points and built up to 38,964.75 points, 38,972.56 points and 39,397.09 points within the first three trading days.

    “These losses were driven by capital reversals on the back of the CBN governor’s suspension by the President.

    “We anticipate continued selling pressure from investors especially foreign portfolio investors, driven by the uncertainty surrounding stability in the economy considering today’s suspension of the CBN Governor,” analysts at Afrinvest (West Africa) noted in what appeared to be the consensus of market pundits.

    Analysts at GTI Securities said the news of the CBN governor’s suspension was a bad piece of news to the equity market.

    “The downturn was due to investors’ apprehensions and cautious outlook to the market in the event of the unfolding reality. Though, …chances of extended bearish run in the next trading session appear strong. We advise that cautious approach should be upheld in decision-making going forward,” GTI Securities cautioned.

    An investor and shareholders’ activist, Gbadebo Olatokunbo, said the suspension was a very bad and dangerous signal to the nation’s economy, adding that government ought to have waited for Sanusi to retire and then go after him if he has questions to answer.

    Olatokunbo, a founding member of the Nigeria Shareholders Solidarity Association (NSSA) said: “But, now that action has been taken against him by our government, we need to know all that happened behind the closed doors that led the government to this hazy-decision of suspension. We must know because this singular action could affect our welfare positively or negatively; while we should start praying for the economic-stability on the suspension-order.”

    However, General Secretary, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Mr. Adebayo Adeleke, said the suspension of the CBN governor was long overdue and called for further investigation into his tenure.

    “Sanusi’s suspension is long overdue. Our long-held position of high level of financial recklessness has been proven right. He should be handed over immediately to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),” Adeleke said.

    Other financial pundits and stakeholders who spoke on condition of anonymity also expressed concerns over the adverse impact of the suspension on the financial markets. They agreed that the suspension of the CBN governor was ill-advised and unnecessary, especially given that it may further stoke political tensions and distort macro-economic stability.

  • Sanusi’s “suspension”

    Sanusi’s “suspension”

    • Silence the whistle blower, bury the crime?

    It would appear a classic recipe from the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Presidency: “suspend” Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, and breathe a sigh of relief. A president is faced with alleged wide-scale sleaze, involving prime state institutions and top officials. He gets rid of the whistle blower in the fond hope to bury the alleged crimes. Nice try, but it is not that cut-and-dried.

    Since the reported face-off between President Jonathan and Mr. Sanusi, in which the president told the CBN governor to resign and the governor called his bluff, the titanic confrontation was heading for some hideous climax. That climax came with yesterday’s terse “suspension” of Mr. Sanusi from office.

    This is, however, one technical “suspension” that screams “removal”, despite the notorious fact the president cannot sack the CBN governor, without two-thirds of the Senate concurring, by virtue of Section 11, subsection 2(f) of the CBN Act of 2007.

    The suspension statement, signed by Reuben Abati, presidential spokesman, read in part: “Having taken special notice of reports of Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria and other investigating bodies, which indicate clearly that Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s tenure has been characterised by various acts of financial recklessness and misconduct which are inconsistent with the administration’s vision of a Central Bank propelled by the core values of focused economic management, prudence, transparency and financial discipline,” the Federal Government had to suspend the governor.

    Aside from huge doubts about the legality of the so-called suspension, the statement is brutally ironic in its savage damning of the accuser. The Jonathan Presidency accuses Mr. Sanusi of “financial recklessness”. But which government in Nigerian history has been more reckless with public money, than the Jonathan Presidency? As at now, there is a huge parliamentary query on an alleged disappearance of US $20 billion (about N5 trillion), more than Nigeria’s yearly budget. Yet, mum or a contemptible haw-haw has been the response from President Jonathan and his aides.

    The last time such a scandal broke, under President Shehu Shagari’s government in the Second Republic (1979-1983), the allegedly missing oil money was N2.8 billion. Yet, the country was in such hideous rage that poor President Shagari hastily addressed an angry nation. But now, President Jonathan’s riposte is a cavalier and cynical suspension of the CBN governor, hoping that with that, the administration’s parlous accountability troubles would end! And the temerity: the statement crawled with buzz words like “core values”, “focused economic management”, “prudence, transparency and financial discipline”! Which of all these has been the hallmark of the Jonathan government?

    That the suspension is cynical is underscored by some disturbing Jonathan patent. As in the case of Justice Isa Ayo Salami, Jonathan rushed to suspend with a vicious premeditated motive — to rape the law to keep the jurist from the rest of his tenure. Now, a cynical parallel: Mr. Sanusi is such a hideous foe he must be shut out of the remainder of his tenure, even if his alleged sins are not in the public domain; and no one knows for sure who indicted him and when the panel submitted its report.

    Contrast this to his stalling in the Stella Oduah scandal, and you would see an errant president, unfazed about using his honourable office to condone dishonourable acts. Stella-gate was public. Her indictment was proved by the president’s own committee, aside from the House of Representatives probe panel. Yet, a president tarried to move against proved indictment (Oduah), yet moved post-haste to act in not-so-clear situations (Salami and Sanusi). Any other proof that this president’s body language inspires corruption?

    Without prejudice to whatever the Jonathan panel that indicted Mr. Sanusi would come up with, it would appear it is all premeditated with muck, emotive blackmail to hang a public foe.

    Even then, notorious facts, of serious allegations of financial sleaze involving the Jonathan Presidency and the ever errant Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), are undiminished. That is precisely why Sanusi is in the dock. Indeed, getting rid of the CBN governor, by any means whatever, would appear a new low in reckless presidential vendetta and pressing of panic buttons in Nigeria’s history.

    Still, notorious facts don’t disappear in the passion of panic. Fact: There was a spat over a “missing” US $49.8 billion oil money. Mr. Sanusi did a secret memo to the president on the issue; and President Jonathan did not act for more than three months, until the memo was leaked. Even then, Jonathan’s anger was directed at, not who allegedly stole the money, but who leaked the secret memo to the media — just as the Police College, Ikeja’s case, when the president wondered how Channels Television “penetrated” the eyesore of decrepit structures in Nigeria’s premier police college!

    When the US $49.8 billion was reconciled down to US $ 12 billion (Sanusi’s side) or US $ 10.8 billion (Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s side), villainy in Jonathan’s view was not why the money was missing but who exposed the money was missing! So, when the almighty NNPC explained away spending that hefty money on kerosene subsidy (a scam), there was palpable relief in presidential circles, even if it was clear the explanation was nothing but a hoax.

    Then came the final crunch: Mr. Sanusi’s insistence, before a parliamentary probe, that NNPC had short-changed the country to the tune of US $20 billion. That perhaps stampeded Finance Minister Dr. Okonjo-Iweala to suggest to the Senate Committee on Finance hearing that a forensic audit be instituted to reconcile Mr. Sanusi’s figures with NNPC’s. But even this suggestion roiled another former minister and Obasanjo-era transparency activist, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, to almost dismiss the suggestion for fear of cover-up. Instead she suggested an international probe panel since, she argued, NNPC had the cash to compromise any hired auditing firm, if it really had something to hide. That, from the Jonathan Presidency, would appear the last straw, and Sanusi just had to go!

    More sinister in the Sanusi roasting is a clear attempt to subvert the Constitution. The CBN governor spoke before a parliamentary probe as part of the parliament’s constitutionally guaranteed oversight function.

    For institutional integrity, the president cannot solely dismiss the CBN governor, because CBN’s independence is imperative for checks and balances in public finance. Yet, the president has “suspended” the CBN governor. Can one who lacks power to sack, amass power to suspend? This is a key legal issue that must be resolved without delay. It is a window for impunity, and imposes an imperial presidency. That is nascent tyranny.

    As Mr. Sanusi rightly said in his reaction to his suspension, what should concern everyone is the institutional integrity of CBN. If this legal puzzle is not resolved, it is clear that Jonathan has set a very dangerous precedent: future presidents can routinely dismiss CBN governors, without recourse to what the law says.

    But Mr. Sanusi must play a leading role in keeping his claims on the front burner, even if he says no matter how it is resolved, he will not return to office. After losing his job for patriotically insisting every kobo of public funds must be accounted for, he cannot afford to sit back and watch the courts slap those in the legal challenge with lack of locus.

  • Coaches’ union denounces Niger FA coaches’ suspension

    Coaches’ union denounces Niger FA coaches’ suspension

    • Says Bosso’s leadership remains authentic
    • Slams NFF on Keshi’s salary

    The umbrella body of coaches in Nigeria, the Nigeria Coaches’ Association (NCA) has denounced the alleged suspension of the Niger State Coaches’ Association by the Niger State Football Association, saying the Ladan Bosso-led executive remains a recognised body.

    In a statement signed by the Secretary of the NCA, Solomon Ogbeide, the purported suspension of the Bosso-led executive is null and void, stressing that the NCA would never recognise the imposed executive.

    According to Ogbeide, the suspension runs foul of Article 10.6 of the NCA constitution as the right to suspend any of the states’ branches resides with only the NCA.

    “Our attention has been drawn to the purported suspension of the Niger State Coaches’ Association by the Niger State Football Association and we want to remind them that they have no such right,” he said.

    The NCA scribe added: “As an elected body, the various states’ coaches’ associations are not under the control of the states’ football association and Article 10.6 is explicit on this. Therefore, the Ladan Bosso-led executive remains the recognisable body and not the undemocratic executive installed by the Niger State FA.”

    In a related development, the NCA took a swipe at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for owing Super Eagles chief coach, Stephen Keshi, seven months’ salaries.

    “We find this development very ridiculous. This is a man that has repositioned the national team, yet the NFF can’t pay him. If countries like Togo and Mali didn’t owe Keshi, how could Nigeria, which boasts of sponsors for the national team? We even know that one of the sponsors undertook the task of paying Keshi’s salary and we ask; has the sponsor reneged or the NFF are deliberately withholding the payment?” the NCA statement said.

  • Sunshine lift suspension Odunlami, Kwambe

    Sunshine lift suspension Odunlami, Kwambe

    Sunshine Stars have lifted the suspension placed on Super Eagles’ players, Ebenezer Odunlami and Solomon Kwambe a top official of the club has told SportingLife.

    Both were suspended last weekend by the Akure Gunners for skipping training prior to the club’s league tie against Gombe United at the Pantami Stadium. The club subsequently lost 0-2.

    The Coordinator of the Ondo State Football Agency(OSFA), Mike Idoko who announced the lifting said the decision was reached after a crucial meeting between the technical crew, the players and OSFA.

    Idoko reckoned that everything had been resolved and that the players have since resumed training ahead of this weekend’s tie with Dolphins of Port Harcourt in Akure.

    “I can tell you that we have lifted the suspension placed on them after a consultative meeting we had. It was a communication gap that caused the whole problem and we have admonished both players as a deterrent to others.

    “They have since resumed training and we are hoping for the best in our subsequent matches especially our home game against Dolphins this weekend,” Idoko said.

  • Idoko backs suspension of Eagles’ duo

    Idoko backs suspension of Eagles’ duo

    • Kwambe, Odunlami explain their absence

    The Coordinator of the Ondo State Football Agency (ODSFA), Mike Idoko says he supports Sunshine Stars’ decision to suspend Super Eagles’ duo, Solomon Kwambe and Kunle Odunlami who last week skipped training sessions.

    Kwambe and Odunlami were suspended by the Akure side’s technical crew along with Team Manager Rasheed Balogun for what the club termed gross indiscipline and anti-club activities.

    But Idoko in a press statement through his Special Assistant on Media, John Abalaka, said that the technical crew was right to suspend any erring player.

    He however said that from the explanation given by both players, a communication gap played a big factor between the technical crew and the two players and that the club would soon meet to take a decision on their current suspension.

    The players however told SportingLife why they were unable to team up with the rest of their colleagues for the build up to their match day 23 Globacom Premier League tie against Gombe United.

    First to speak was Kwambe, who blamed lack of communication for his failure to meet up with the team’s final training sessions for the game in Gombe.

    He said : “I sustained a knock in our match against the Elephants of Cote d’Iviore. So, on arrival I came straight to Akure to observe a two-day rest as advised by the medics.

    “Unfortunately, the team was already set for the away game to Gombe United by the time I would be returning to training.

    “Sunshine Stars is my only team, where my daily bread comes from. So, I can’t abandon the team at this trying time.

    “I am sorry for the communication gap and I promise to make up for my shortcomings in our subsequent matches.”

    Odunlami also gave reasons for his absence. “I couldn’t meet up because my car developed a fault along the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway after I had gone home to attend to my younger brother. He was involved in an auto accident and was admitted at the hospital.

    “It was difficult for me but I had to leave him to head back to Akure only to be told that my team mates had already left for Gombe.

    “I have never abandoned the club before because I know the huge impact the club has had on my career.

    “I took permission to leave the Eagles’ camp to play our game against Kaduna United during match day 21.

    “I regret the misconception this has created within the club and I hope to make necessary changes in our next games,” Odunlami said.

  • Southwest PDP lifts Fayose’s, others’ suspension

    Ekiti State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lifted the suspension placed on former Governor Ayo Fayose.

    Rising from a meeting of the Executive Committee of the party in the Southwest zone in Lagos on Wednesday, the Zonal Exco directed that the suspensions announced by the groups in the state PDP were hereby set aside and the status quo ante should be maintained.

    The party said the decision was taken to prevent a situation where it would contest next year’s election as a divided party.

    In a statement yesterday by the Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the party in the zone, Chief Ishola Filani, the party said it cannot fold its arms and allow individual interest to destroy it as the 2014 governorship poll draws near.

    Besides Fayose, those to benefit from the rapprochement are the state Chairman, Mr. Makanjuola Ogundipe; Secretary, Dr. T.K. Aluko; Public Relations Officer, Pastor Kola Oluwawole; Woman Leader, Busola Oyebode; Treasurer, Deolu Aluko; Youth Leader, Taye Olatunji and Director-General, Information, Chief Gboyega Aribisogan.

    “The raging crisis,” the PDP said, “will not add any value to the party in Ekiti, but will destroy it totally.”

    To avert this, the Zonal Exco, “has set up a five-man committee to look into the crisis and come up with a resolution/recommendation within 10 days.”

    Filani said as a prelude to the committee’s work, he and two other Ekiti indigenes in the Zonal Exco “will visit the state to ensure there is peace in PDP.”

    The five-man committee is headed by Dr. Yomi Finnih. Mr. Ebenezer Alabi, Chairman, Ondo State chapter of the party, is the Secretary. Members of the committee are Mrs. Ayoka Lawani, Chief Zaccheaus Oyekunle and Mr. Ayo Olowofoyeku, an architect.

    The crisis took a new twist yesterday, as Fayose and Police Affairs Minister, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd), traded words.

    Fayose, who stormed the Abuja national secretariat of the PDP with a petition, alleged that the Makanjuola Ogundipe-led state Exco had been compromised by Olubolade through monetary inducements.

    According to the former governor, Capt. Olubolade provided the logistics and funding for the Ogundipe exco to set up an 11-man consensus committee, headed by retired Justice Ojuolape.

    “I wish to state here that those who appeared before the national chairman of the party are pro-Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade. They came to the national secretariat in an official vehicle provided by the minister to further confirm that the state chairman had been compromised,” Fayose said.

    Capt. Olubolade dismissed Fayose as a drowning man desperate to drag others down with him.

    Speaking through his Ekiti State Liaison Officer, Mr. Alaba Agboola, in Abuja yesterday, the minister urged the leaders and members of the Ekiti PDP not to be distracted in their quest to produce a credible candidate for the party.

    He said: “The Ekiti are sick and tired of the culture of executive violence characterised by assassination and killing of political opponents as witnessed in our state in the past.

    “Apparently, this culture of violence contributed to the erosion of the image of the Ekiti PDP at the time. What do we make of a situation where someone aspiring to govern a state would storm the party secretariat with armed thugs, injuring and chasing party officials out of their duty posts?

    “Fayose is being haunted by his past and he should be honest enough to situate the blame for his present predicament within the context of his past deeds and misdeeds.

    “Affliction shall not arise for the good people of Ekiti for the second time. PDP truly desires to reclaim Ekiti State, but the party has made it clear that its candidate will not emerge through a process of violence and thuggery.”

    In the petition he submitted to the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Fayose said the advice by President Goodluck Jonathan to the effect that the party should explore the possibility of picking a consensus candidate was being capitalised upon by Ogundipe to impose Capt Olubolade as a cons

  • My suspension political, says Ondo lawmaker

    The suspended lawmaker representing Ose Constituency in Ondo State, Mrs. Fola Olasehinde, at the weekend urged members of the House of Assembly to rescind their decision and reinstate her.

    She said the allegation levelled against her was politically-motivated, adding that they should allow her perform her parliamentary role as a representative of her constituents.

    Mrs. Olasehinde was suspended by the Assembly on June 19 for allegedly keeping fetish objects in her former apartment.

    The lawyer-cum-politician and a chieftain of the Labour Party (LP) said from observation, her colleagues, who placed her on a three-month suspension, were not ready to keep to the stipulated time.

    According to her, a committee, headed by Mr. Olotu Fatai, was constituted by the House to look into the allegation and submit its report within two weeks, but nothing had been heard on the issue.

    She said such an action was humiliating despite her commitment to the success of the LP.

    Mrs. Olasehinde, who spoke to The Nation in Akure, said the allegation on fetish objects was fallacious, stressing that she was being punished unnecessarily.

    She said: “I rented an apartment from Chief Ogunbadejo in 2009 and vacated the place in September 2012.

    “To my surprise, nine months after I left, my former landlord alleged that he found some fetish items in the apartment.

    “The house has two apartments that share one pumping machine.

    “When I was vacating, I dropped the key to the place where the pumping machine was kept.

    “Why would the landlord allege that I didn’t drop the key when he is aware that his second tenant would not have had access to water if I didn’t drop the key?”

    The lawmaker said Mr. Ogunbadejo went to the house with a court bailiff, a police officer and his own lawyer on June 4 to allegedly break into the apartment after which they signed a document that read “nothing was found”.

    Her words: “Why did the landlord allege that he found fetish items two weeks after he confirmed that there was nothing in the apartment?”