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LequteMan
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A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, according to Premium Times in a statement released on Saturday has blamed Lamido Sanusi for his suspension as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria by President Goodluck Jonathan over allegations of financial recklessness.
According to him, the CBN governor dared the President by refusing to resign when he was purportedly asked to.
“Convinced that he could only be removed by the President with the approval of the Senate Mr Sanusi turned down the request and dared the President to remove him,” Mr. Falana said.
“Having regard to his irreconcilable differences with the Jonathan Administration on the operation and management of the Federation Account Mr Sanusi ought to have voluntarily resigned his appointment.
“But he decided to remain in office while taking the Administration to the cleaners at the tail end of his 5-year tenure. To that extent, Mr Sanusi has himself to blame for his suspension from office on account of alleged financial recklessness,” Mr. Falana added.
Since Mr. Sanusi had been placed on suspension, the law presumes that he remains the substantive Governor of the CBN, he said.
“Therefore, pending the end of his tenure or removal from office through the Senate there is no basis for the appointment of a new CBN governor,” said Mr. Falana.
“President Jonathan is advised to suspend the process for the replacement of the CBN governor by withdrawing the new nomination forwarded to the Senate as the nation cannot have a suspended governor and a substantive governor of the CBN at the same time.
“In the alternative, the Senate should put off any debate on the fresh nomination pending the end of the tenure of the suspended governor,” he added.
Mr. Falana further stated that the diversion of huge public funds from the Federation Account as alleged by Mr. Sanusi should not be swept under the carpet, while calling for the investigation of the alleged financial recklessness against the suspended CBN governor.
“The reports of such audit should then be submitted to the National Assembly for necessary action in line with the provisions of section 85(4) of the Constitution,” Mr. Falana added.
According to him, the CBN governor dared the President by refusing to resign when he was purportedly asked to.
“Convinced that he could only be removed by the President with the approval of the Senate Mr Sanusi turned down the request and dared the President to remove him,” Mr. Falana said.
“Having regard to his irreconcilable differences with the Jonathan Administration on the operation and management of the Federation Account Mr Sanusi ought to have voluntarily resigned his appointment.
“But he decided to remain in office while taking the Administration to the cleaners at the tail end of his 5-year tenure. To that extent, Mr Sanusi has himself to blame for his suspension from office on account of alleged financial recklessness,” Mr. Falana added.
Since Mr. Sanusi had been placed on suspension, the law presumes that he remains the substantive Governor of the CBN, he said.
“Therefore, pending the end of his tenure or removal from office through the Senate there is no basis for the appointment of a new CBN governor,” said Mr. Falana.
“President Jonathan is advised to suspend the process for the replacement of the CBN governor by withdrawing the new nomination forwarded to the Senate as the nation cannot have a suspended governor and a substantive governor of the CBN at the same time.
“In the alternative, the Senate should put off any debate on the fresh nomination pending the end of the tenure of the suspended governor,” he added.
Mr. Falana further stated that the diversion of huge public funds from the Federation Account as alleged by Mr. Sanusi should not be swept under the carpet, while calling for the investigation of the alleged financial recklessness against the suspended CBN governor.
“The reports of such audit should then be submitted to the National Assembly for necessary action in line with the provisions of section 85(4) of the Constitution,” Mr. Falana added.