Sanusi’s Suspension Constitutionally Correct – Ozekhome

mike-ozekhomeConstitutional lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Mike Ozekhome, on Friday said President Goodluck Jonathan’s suspension of Lamido Sanusi as Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was in order.

The human rights activist in a contrary opinion to the views expressed by some lawyers argued that the suspension was legally right.

“Constitutionally and legally, what President Jonathan did was correct. He does not require the consent of the National Assembly to do so”, Ozekhome said.

“Anyone who is an employee has to know that he is answerable to his employer. You cannot bite the finger that feeds you.

“The Nigerian Constitution and the CBN Act give the President the authority to suspend or remove the Governor of the CBN”, he said.

Ozekhome, who spoke in a parley with reporters in Abuja, claimed that Sanusi had deviated from his core mandate of leading the apex bank to the path of monetary stability.

“A governor of a Central Bank in any part of the world should be seen and not heard.

“When he should be heard, he should only be discussing monetary policies which will uplift the economy of his country.

“In Nigeria, what we have is a CBN governor that has been fighting the government of his country”, he posited.

Ozekhome alleged that Sanusi had been making very provocative and highly derogatory statements even about the monetary policies of his own country.

“When you say all that, then how do you want international investors to come to the country, when a very reliable figure is saying all these negative things about his country”, he claimed.

The lawyer alleged that the ex-CBN governor had been acting like a political leader or traditional ruler by donating public funds to universities, political aides and at other functions.

He further claimed that Sanusi was not versatile and had committed six blunders on the missing funds from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) within the last two months.

“This variation in figures of the missing funds has caused chaos in the country, which is not supposed to be so”, Ozekhome said.

8 COMMENTS

  1. I appreciate ozekhome. A constitutional lawyer and a syndicated columnist for abreasting nigerians that lamido sanusi. Lamido sack was constitutional and. Long. Overdue,a cbn governor is not. Suppose to be seen or heard,and even if it. Should be heard it. Should be on monetary policies!all the finacial. Blumder he. Fed nigerians with and the. Finacial recklessness. Is enough to. Send him packing!good ridance to bad rubbish!

  2. Lawyer Ozekhome, thank u. Not all legal steps can stand MORALITY TEST .A law without moral is standing on its head.What is the moral justification for corrupt government to sack a citizen acting in the Public Interest by exposing THE ROGUES AND VAGABONDS IN POWER. Nigeria, surely needs a positive change. THIS IS NOT THE GOVERNMENT OUR NATION NEEDS OH GOD PLEASE, INTERCEED AND SAFE US FROM WOLVES IN SHEEP SKIN. AMEN.

  3. Mr SAN, is neither d matter of status nor Public Figure all what we need 2 hear is nothing but TRUTH. If someone lik CBN Gov decided not 2 say d truth or expose them whoelse do u think can do it. Is it actvist lawyer or marker woman or bus driver?. In case dat, u dnt need 2 crucify d actions of Mr CBN Gov.

  4. Mr senior advocate wat do u knw about monetary stability ? U r a lawyer arguing lyk a politician, y didn’t u gv us d part of d law dat grants d president such legitimacy ? Mr GEJ dos nt hav dat constitutional power period! D 2/3 of d senate must aprove of it. And mr Sanusi has d ryt lyk evry oda Nigerian 2 raise a motion wen our money is missin, he as a CBN govnor knws beta about d criminality dat goes on in d gvt wt adequate statistics. his donations r corporate and even if nt it is much beta dan buildin castles abroad and buyin bullet proof cars and fleets of presidential jets in d midst of strikes, unemployment and poverty. GEJ has failed Nigerians.

  5. I pity this Mr SAN. And they say he is a lawyer ? He is not a lawyer at all. Maybe he is a law graduate or a lawyers’ clerk. He is not talking law at all. He is not talking morality ad well. If he were to talk morality, he would remember that it is morally right for sanusi or any other Nigerian to expose corruption. This self-acclaimed SAN is a product of corruption. He is lobbying for an appointment from Jonathan.