A Nigerian court on Thursday said intelligence agents broke the law when they seized the passport of ousted central bank governor Lamido Sanusi and ordered the government to pay damages and publicly apologise.
Sanusi was suspended on February 20, less than four months before his terms was set to expire, after accusing the powerful state oil firm of stealing nearly $20 billion (14.5 billion euros) of public funds.
Hours after the suspension was announced, Sanusi returned to Lagos from a regional bankers meeting in Niger and was met by intelligence agents at the airport who confiscated his passport.
The ex-central bank boss immediately filed a complaint claiming that his rights had been breached.
At a hearing at the Federal High court in Lagos, judge Ibrahim Buba ruled that the actions of the Directorate of State Services (DSS) “deserve condemnation” and ordered it to return Sanusi’s passport immediately.
The DSS “has no power to seize the passport of any citizen” without due process, Buba added.
He ordered Nigeria to pay Sanusi 50 million naira ($300,000) in damages and issue a public apology.
Defending the DSS actions, justice ministry lawyers suggested that Sanusi’s passport was taken because there was evidence that he had financed terrorism.
Buba said the state lawyers had mentioned the allegation as “an afterthought”, noting that Sanusi has not been charged with any crimes.
President Goodluck Jonathan said Sanusi was removed for “financial recklessness”, allegations the ex-central bank boss has fiercely denied.
Sanusi, whose tenure had been applauded by economists in Nigeria and abroad, has said he was removed because of his vocal criticism of government corruption and perceptions that he was loyal to leading opposition figures.
Last month, lawmakers approved the former head of Zenith Bank Godwin Emefiele as the new central bank chief.
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Hmmmmm........Sanusi shud b feeling on top of d world now!
ReplyDeleteMy country Nigeria anything can happen
why is it dat som nigerians are so blind and deaf to the glaring Facts and Truth? Sanusi is 1 of the best CBN gov.9ja has ever had! Sanusi was Harrassed$ suspended cos he exposed to we Nigerians the avenues in which the FG used in accruing and looting public funds for personal and upcoming Presidential election in 2015. if not,y did the FG replaced Sanusi wit an Igbo man and not a Yoruba or moreso an Hausa man? lets b Wise my country pple!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd what is this fool trying to insinuate by asking why SLS was replaced with an Igbo man and not Yoruba or Hausa? Its not by force to comment on any news pls. If u have no reasonable comment to make u better keep your ignorance with ur family rather than come here to show it to d world. Mtcheeewww.
Deleteask him, is Igbo man not a Nigerian?
DeleteIf people like Aminu Dabo and bode judge can be set free and also claim damages then i thinks Sunusi deserve more than “JUST“ a compasation and a public apology.
ReplyDeleteYou are right my brother/sister. Sanusi is the best thing to he happened to Nigeria's financial institutions, but see how the corrupt govts are handling him. The truth shall be known.
DeleteMediocrity and ignorance is what boarders ur spirit by mentioning the tribe that was appointed to replace Sanusi.Better give a valid comment/opinion or shot up ur stinking decay mouth for ever@ Anonymous of April 3. and all your brothers. Tribalist Monkey you are
DeleteThe question of who replaces Sanusi is unconennected with what we are saying. You must be an ethnic chauvunist to see issue from dta perspective. Anybody can replace anybody irrespective of tribe. Ask urself who replaced Major Gen Ihejirika. Pls be guided
ReplyDeleteSanusi is never the best CBN Governor Nija has ever had. Their is every possibility that he sponsored terrorist in Nija. Why did he bite the finger that feed him all in the name of exposing Jonathan's govt because Jonathan is not a northerner.
ReplyDeleteNigerians have grown pass the politic of mere “RUMOURS,PROPAGANDA,FABRICATION,FALSE ALLEGATION AND MERE SAY“,if truely Sunusi Lamido Sunusi or Gen Muhammad Buhari are the major sponsors of “TERORRIST“ groups in the country as some of you “IDIOTS“claim and the “FOOL“ you call a leader with all the security agents at his disposal couldn‘t summon the courage to arrest them, yet some “MORONS“ still hail such a “WEAK AND INCOMPETENT“ person simply bcos the “MUGU“ is a xtian and from thier region and with all this they still refer to others as bigots and tribalistics. I really wonder thier way of reasoning!
ReplyDeleteNigerians have grown pass the politic of mere “RUMOURS,PROPAGANDA,FABRICATION,FALSE ALLEGATION AND MERE SAY“,if truely Sunusi Lamido Sunusi or Gen Muhammad Buhari are the major sponsors of “TERORRIST“ groups in the country as some of you “IDIOTS“claim and the “FOOL“ you call a leader with all the security agents at his disposal couldn‘t summon the courage to arrest them, yet some “MORONS“ still hail such a “WEAK AND INCOMPETENT“ person simply bcos the “MUGU“ is a xtian and from thier region and with all this they still refer to others as bigots and tribalistics. I really wonder thier way of reasoning!!
ReplyDeleteYou Must be a fool for said Jonathan is not from a northernal, what has that useless Jonathan giving to u? everybody are complaints abt the idiot of him, or u are looking @ it from religions aspects better be wise
ReplyDeletePlz write the one u can speak.English is nt by force abeg
DeleteAboki english garnished with 'tuwo' and 'furadenunu'. Technology don suffer. Mallam abeg go check ya Nama them no call you here.
ReplyDeleteIt is just irritating and really sad how this avenue which can be used to address the grievious issues affecting our nation, and which can serve as a medium of bringing youthful intelligent nigerians together to think of a positv way out has been degenerated into an avenue for religious and ethnic chauvanism. Come on good educated nigerians pls be wise and try and look beyond tribe and religion, Nigeria needs us all as one pple. Pleasse
ReplyDelete