Sanusi Challenges Accusations That he Financed Terrorism

The legal battle between the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mallam Sanusi Lamido, and the Federal Government has taken a new twist as government says the embattled governor is being investigated for allegedly sponsoring terrorist acts perpetrated by the Boko Haram Sect.

Sanusi had dragged government to a Federal High Court in Lagos challenging his suspension.  He is also challenging the seizure of his international passport by the Secret Police.  The government claimed Sanusi was sacked due to an ongoing investigation into financial misappropriation. However, the former CBN governor insisted on his innocence and wants the court to uphold his fundamental human right by barring security agents from arresting him.

To prove its case against Sanusi,  government officials, in a counter affidavit filed before the court, has alleged that the CBN Governor is been investigated in connection with terrorism sponsorship in the country.Government is hoping to use the claim contained in the court papers to persuade the court from ordering the release of Sanusi’s international passport.

Sanusi’s lawyer, Kola Awodein, has however dismissed the claim saying that government had not shown any concrete proof that his client was behind any such acts.  Awodein insisted that the allegation was an afterthought by government and an attempt to rubbish the reputation of his client.

He urged the court to hold that the continued seizure of his clients international passport constitute an abuse of his fundamental human right.  Government lawyer, Fabian Ajogwu however urged the court to dismiss Sanusi’s suit for lack of jurisdiction.  Ajogwu, argued that Sanusi could not by his suit, seek to restrain the security agencies from performing their constitutional and statutory duties.

Ajogwu went on to say, “My Lord, this suit is speculative, hypocritical and an attempt to shield the applicant from the machinery of the administration of justice, which the Federal Government has started. We respectfully submit that the applicant is not entitled to a grant of perpetual injunction, restraining the respondents from performing their constitutional duties.”  However, the presiding Judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba will rule on the matter on Thursday.

Source: allAfrica