Sanusi’s Suspension Didn’t Follow Due Process, NLC Says

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has tasked President Goodluck Jonathan to, as a matter of urgency, investigate and bring to book all those involved in financial scandals, including the illegal acquisition of N255million bulletproof cars, missing fund from Subsidy Re-Investment Programme (SURE-P) and the controversial National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) missing funds.
In its reaction to the missing $20billion oil funds, the Congress faulted the recent action of Mr. President where he forcefully suspended Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
NLC President, Abdulwahed Omar, gave this position in a statement titled “Sanusi’s removal failed litmus test of due process”, and made public yesterday.
Omar, who expressed displeasure over the development, however emphasised the need for President Goodluck Jonathan not “to dissipate energy on Sanusimania”, but rather “focus on irrefutable cases of corruption, bring those involved in various financial scandals including “Sure-P missing funds, the BMW bulletproof cars, the Sanusi revelations at NNPC” to book.
“While we hold Sanusi accountable for not doing his home work properly before going public on an issue as sensitive as this, especially considering the sum involved, we believe the process of his removal is patently flawed and ridicules due process as well as contemptuous of the Act establishing the CBN.
“It is capable of discouraging future whistle blowers in government as well as casting a pall on government’s fight against corruption, none of which is good for the image of the government at the moment.
“Indeed, government’s action is negatively pre-emptive and malicious by virtue of the fact that full investigations into the allegations had not been concluded before it removed Sanusi and also the fact that it had sent in to the Senate for confirmation the name of his successor.
“It is common knowledge that over the years NNPC has not come clean on the issue of remittances to the federation account, a fact responsible for the routine shunning of invitations by the National Assembly.
“In our view, the most important thing is that government should not lose sight of its fight against corruption which is the major issue here. Government’s commitment to this scourge should be demonstrable, clear and unambiguous, he said.

President Goodluck Jonathan (4th-right), Vice-President Namadi Sambo (4th left), with Bonny chiefs and elders, during their visit to the Presidential Villa, in Abuja last Monday