'Sanusi Would Return To Office Today Or Tomorrow If...' - President Jonathan

Secretary to the Government to the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim has asked the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN) to audit the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Acting on President Goodluck Jonathan’s directive, Anyim gave the FRCN six weeks to do job.
The audit is to examine the books showing how suspended CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has run the apex bank.

The President said Sanusi remained the CBN governor and would be allowed back to the office “today or tomorrow”, if he was cleared at the end of investigation.

Sanusi was suspended last Thursday for alleged “misconduct” and “financial recklessness”. He denied any wrongdoing, challenging his accusers to open the books.

The presidential directive to the FRCN is believed to be a response to Sanusi’s stand on the row between him and the authorities.

The fresh audit is a follow-up to an earlier on by auditing giants Coopers and Lybrand. Continue...
Sanusi has accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) of being unable to account for $20 billion oil revenue. The argument was still raging when he was suddenly suspended – an action the President defended last night.

Dr Jonathan said he has “absolute power” to suspend Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi from office.

According to him, it would have been inappropriate to have allowed Sanusi to remain in office while the report of the FRCN, which indicted the CBN 2012 audit report, was being considered. He said because Sanusi is the chairman of the CBN board of directors, it was mandatory for him to be out of office during investigation.

Dr Sarah Alade, the most senior deputy governor was appointed to act for Sanusi. Zenith Bank Managing Director Godwin Emefiele has been nominated as CBN governor, to take office on June 2 when Sanusi’s tenure is due to end. The Senate is yet to confirm the appointment.