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CBN Governor Sanusi's Suspension Illegal, Null And Void, Says Governor Kwankwaso

February 20, 2014

Gov. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State has faulted the suspension of the Governor of the Central Bank (CBN) Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, calling the action illegal, null and void before the law. 

Gov. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State has faulted the suspension of the Governor of the Central Bank (CBN) Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, calling the action illegal, null and void before the law. 

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Speaking at a public function at Government House in Kano on Thursday, the governor declared there was an ulterior motive behind the suspension, which he described as a grand design to dislodge Kanawa from the economic and financial decision-making agencies of the Federal government so as to further impoverish and marginalize the state.

Governor Kwankwaso further stated that it was sheer disrespect to the existing laws of the land and show of ingratitude that a person who has brought about sweeping positive changes that would have put the nation's economy on the pedestal of growth would be treated unfairly.

Sanusi, he said, should rather be commended for exposing the rot and corruption in the NNPC.  "A responsible government would have promptly investigated the allegations but they disappointingly refused to [do so]," the governor said.

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While describing the suspension as illegal, null and void, Gov. Kwankwaso noted that the CBN Act provides that the removal of the CBN Governor "shall be supported by two-third majority of the Senate praying that he be so removed."

"Clearly therefore law does not give the President the power to suspend the CBN Governor without recourse to the Senate. You cannot just trample on the law with impunity, without recourse to constitutional provisions," he said.

The governor further drew an analogy with President Jonathan’s illegal removal of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami. 

"In a similar guise of suspension, Justice Salami was removed by the President and was not reinstated despite his reinstatement by the NJC. They refused to do so until he attained the retirement age of 70 years," he said.

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