CBN Gov. Sanusi's Suspension: APC Senators Suggest Pet. Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke Be Sacked Too

The hot debates over suspension of the Governor of Central Bank (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, on February 20, 2014, Thursday, continued on the following day, as the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the Senate has declared the suspension of the CBN boss by President Goodluck Jonathan as illegal and unconstitutional.

The APC Senators told the President if he was serious with the issue of financial recklessness as alleged as the reason for firing Sanusi, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, should also be sacked for the same reason.

But some Senators, including some in the opposition, have said that the testimony by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, at the Senate investigative hearing by the Senate Committee on Finance had exonerated Alison-Madueke from any allegations.

From the testimony of the AGF, it was gathered that rather than the big discovery of fraud and mismanagement that necessitated the probe, Senators have discovered that the suspended CBN Governor raised false alarm and misled the committee.

The Senate Finance Committee had raised fresh queries over the suspension of the CBN governor following emerging facts which it said contradicted his initial allegation of alleged missing $49.8 billion oil revenue.

The committee was said to be shocked that the presidential directive which the oil ministry was accused of disobeying was never concluded and that it even contained contradictory provisions which make it implementation impossible.

The committee was also unhappy as the case was presented as if it is Dieziani Maduekwe, the present minister, that refused to implement the directive.

Meanwhile, the Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, restrained the police, the Department of State Services, and other security agencies from arresting the suspended CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

The court presided over by Justice Ibrahim Buba gave the order after listening to Sanusi's exparte application brought against the Inspector General of Police, IGP, and the DSS, under fundamental rights.