by ‘Jola Sotubo
The embattled former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi will today know his fate as a court in Lagos will sit on the matter between him and the government.
Sanusi brought the suit against the FG as well as its security agencies to challenge any future plans to arrest him.
The former head of the apex bank is praying the court to declare any such move unconstitutional and he is also seeking an order restraining the police and operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) from arresting, detaining or otherwise harassing him.
The Daily Independent reports:
He joined the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Bello Adoke; Inspector General (IG) of Police, Mohammed Abubakar; and the DSS as first, second and third respondents respectively.
Justice Ibrahim Buba had at the last adjourned date fixed today for hearing of the matter following the need to put all necessary papers before the court.
Meanwhile, government, in its objection to the suit, wants the court to strike it out.
The government alleged that Sanusi’s tenure at the CBN was characterised by various acts of financial recklessness and misconduct, and that the infractions were inconsistent with the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan’s vision of a CBN that is propelled by the core values of focused economic management, prudence, transparency and financial discipline.
Government said the far-reaching financial irregularities perpetrated by the ex-CBN Governor actually distracted the apex bank from the pursuit of its statutory mandate.
Government further stressed that the President had to urgently exercise the powers conferred on him by the Constitution and the CBN Act to suspend Sanusi in an effort to reposition the CBN for greater efficiency, respect for due process and accountability.
While faulting the suit, the AGF, in an affidavit in support of the preliminary objection deposed to by one Ayokunle Odekunle, said the reliefs being sought by Sanusi were constitutionally ungrantable as the Police and the DSS cannot be restricted from carrying out their constitutional and statutory duties of arresting and prosecuting anyone found to have committed an offence.
Therefore, the government is seeking an order striking out the suit.
