President Jonathan Suspends CBN Governor Sanusi

CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

By SaharaReporters, New York

President Goodluck Jonathan today ordered the suspension of Nigeria's Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, weeks after the CBN Governor exposed the theft of at least $20 billion by officials of  Nigerian petroleum ministry.
 A press release issued by the spokesperson to the President, Reuben Abati explained that the CBN governor was suspended because of reports by the Financial Reporting Council claiming the CBN governor had engaged in "financial recklessness and misconduct". The release did not specifically name any particular financial crime but goes ahead to announce a replacement for Mr. Sanusi.
SaharaReporters could not reach the CBN governor who is currently traveling in Niger for his reaction by an aide who spoke on his behalf said he was not aware of his suspension as the President did not communicate his intention to suspend him to the governor.
 Mr. Sanusi had recently refused to back down from allegations that the NNPC and the Petroleum minister, Diezani Allsion-Madueke could not account for over $20 billion of crude oil exports carried out by the NNPC.

 Below is the text of Mr. Abati's press release announcing President Jonathan's action.
Having taken special notice of reports of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria and other investigating bodies, which indicate clearly that Mallam Sanusi Lamido  Sanusi’s tenure has been characterized 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;
Being also deeply concerned about far-reaching irregularities  under Mallam Sanusi’s watch which have distracted the Central Bank away from the pursuit and achievement of its statutory mandate; and 

Being determined to urgently re-position the Central Bank of Nigeria for greater efficiency, respect for due process and accountability, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has ordered the immediate suspension of Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi from the Office of Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

President Jonathan has further ordered that Mallam Sanusi should hand over to the most senior Deputy Governor of the CBN, Dr Sarah Alade who will serve as Acting Governor until the conclusion of on-going investigations into breaches of enabling laws, due process and mandate of  the CBN.

The President expects that as Acting Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Alade will focus on the core mandate of the Bank and conduct its affairs with greater professionalism, prudence and propriety to restore domestic and international confidence in the country’s apex bank.

The Federal Government of Nigeria reassures all stakeholders in Nigeria’s financial and monetary system that this decision has been taken in absolute good faith, in the overall interest of the Nigerian economy and in accordance with our laws and due process.


Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
February 20, 2014

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SUPER EAGLES FRONT MAN EMENIKE TO MISS QUALIFIERS & CONFIDERATION CUP

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Nigeria Super Eagles striker & star of the African Nations cup Emmanuel Emenike will miss June’s 2014 World Cup qualifiers and the Fifa Confederations Cup due to a  knee injury.

He picked up the injury on Sunday playing for his club Spartak Moscow, on his return from a long-term hamstring layoff, during a Russian Premier League match. He will miss action for about 2 months as he tries to recover.
“It’s a terrible setback for me because I was very happy to be back playing again on Sunday,” he told BBC Sport.
“I know injury is part of football but sometimes you struggle to understand why it happens so soon again after recovering. Our team doctor is confident I will be back playing again after two months, hopefully I can return stronger and better.”
Emenike had also picked up an injury during the African Nations Cup that saw him miss the final match against Burkina Faso.
This means he will not be available for Nigeria when they travel to play Kenya on the 5th June, against Namibia a week later and the Confederations Cup in Brazil.
Reports in the Nigerian media suggest that Everton striker Victor Anichebe will be handed a late recall by Keshi, as a replacement for Emenike.

Gwagwalada (FCT) – The University of Abuja chapter of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) started atwo-week warning strike onMonday over the failure of government to implement a visitation panel report. Dr Clement Chup, the Chairman, University of Abuja branch of ASUU, who disclose this at a press conference, said Federal Government’s delay in implementing the white paper was not in the interest of the university. He said the union’s resolution to embark on a two-week warning strike followed government’s failure to listen to the university’s longstanding complaints over governancecrisis at institution. According to him, the specific element of the crisisis the continuing delay in the implementation of the recommendations of the report of the 2012 Presidential Visitation Panel. Chup said the implementation of the report would no doubt commence the needed cleansing and rebuilding that would bring lasting solution to the crisis in the university. “In view of the deliberate delay of Government to commence implementation of the Dr T. C. Osanakpo Report, eight months after submission, ASUU, University of Abuja chapter, has no option but to embarkon a two-week warning strike. “The Special Visitation Panel has carefully and painfully after eight weeks of work come up with a report that left no one in doubt of the near collapse of the system. “We understand that a staggering amount of almost N400million of tax payers’ money was expended on the panel and that the panel submitted its report to government on Sept. 21, 2012,” he said. In his reaction, Dr Mohammed Damagum, the Chairman, ASUU Integrity Group, University of Abuja, condemned the warning strike, saying members of his group should ignore the action. He said the call for the strikewas unscrupulous, unpatriotic, maliciously calculated and ill-conceived to destabilise the hard-earned peace in the university. The group chairman called for support for the newly constituted university governing council, adding that the strike was not in the interest on the university. (NAN)