President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on Thursday February 20th 2014 suspended Mallam Lamido Sanusi as the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) a move the members of the House of Representatives have condemned as illegal and unconstitutional.
The House Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila expressed dismay at the suspension of Sanusi, saying the action was an attack on the bank’s autonomy and setback for the fight on corruption.
In response to their concerns, the special adviser to the President on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, has said President Jonathan did not do anything illegal by suspending Sanusi as the CBN governor.
He told State House correspondents that the CBN Act being referred to only talks of removal and not suspension.
“He who hires also has the power to suspend,” Abati said.
Although he said he was not aware of any plan to arrest Sanusi, the presidential spokesman said under the enabling Act, where an indictment is established, the law will take its course.
