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President Jonathan Withholds Emir Lamido Sanusi’s Severance Benefits

President Goodluck Jonathan has refused to release the severance benefits of the former Central Bank Governor of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who is now the Emir of Kano.

In 2013, Sanusi sent a letter to President Jonathan in which he alleged that over a 19-month period, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had failed to remit $49.8 billion into the federation account.

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He alleged that between January 2012 and July 2013, the corporation lifted $65 billion worth of crude oil but remitted only $15 billion, meaning that about $50 billion was missing.

Mr. Jonathan ignored the letter until it subsequently leaked to the public.  Eventually, with the reeling government arguing that only about $10 billion remained to be accounted for, Jonathan fired Sanusi from his post.  A panel was set up to investigate that amount but its report has yet to be released. 

SaharaReporters learnt that after some northern traditional leaders led by the Sultan of Sokoto brokered peace between both men, Sanusi’s passport, which was seized when he was fired, was returned to him.  Efforts towards that recovery led Sanusi to visit Jonathan twice at the presidential villa.

Since then, however, the President has refused to allow the CBN to release its former governor’s severance package. Sources told SaharaReporters that Jonathan, who holds that stealing in office is not corruption, has not forgiven the Emir for exposing the monumental corruption at the NNPC.

President Jonathan paid a courtesy visit to the Emir today during a campaign stop in Kano.