Uncategorized

Jonathan warns Sanusi to stop deceiving the public

Published

11 years ago

March 12, 2014

The presidency has criticized what it called the unrelenting
attempt by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria
(CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to falsely portray his recent
suspension from office as the government’s attempt to bury his
allegation that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
has not accounted for huge sums of money due to the
Federation Account.
In a statement signed by spokesman Reuben Abati, the
Presidency declared that Sanusi’s suspension has “absolutely
nothing” to do with his claims of funds missing from the
national treasury.
“Mallam Sanusi’s allegations are patently untrue,” the
statement said. “But Government is making no effort to bury
them as he falsely claims. Relevant committees of the
National Assembly are still investigating the claims and the
suspended CBN Governor remains free to give evidence
before them in support of his allegations.”
In last Monday’s interview with the New York Times which
seems to have rattled the Jonathan government, Sanusi spoke
of his efforts to unravel the whereabouts of the missing $20bn
oil money, including a February 11 semi-monthly meeting
with bank chiefs on at which he “threatened to open the books
of the bankers, to trace the money.”
According to the suspended CBN boss, who said he suspected
some of them were laundering stolen oil money, “Some of
them were not giving information about their accounts. I told
them I would order a special examination.”
One of the bankers at the meeting told the New York Times
that Sanusi made it plain to them that the CBN would need
to unravel what was going on, and called for their
cooperation.
In panic, Sanusi told the newspaper, several of the bankers
went straight to the government, which labours under a sordid
reputation for corruption.
Full text of the statement:
STATE HOUSE PRESS STATEMENT
RESPOND TO CHARGES AGAINST YOU
AND STOP MISINFORMING THE PUBLIC
– PRESIDENCY TELLS SANUSI
We have noted with disappointment, the unrelenting attempt
by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi
Lamido Sanusi to falsely portray his recent suspension from
office as an attempt by the Presidency to bury his allegation
that huge sums of money due to the Federation Account are
unaccounted for by the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation (NNPC).
The Presidency wishes to reaffirm that Mallam Sanusi’s
suspension has absolutely nothing to do with his unproven and
inconsistent claim that $49.8 Billion, $12 Billion or $20
Billion is missing from the national treasury.
As was clearly stated in the letter suspending him from office
and confirmed by President Goodluck Jonathan in his last
Presidential Media Chat, Mallam Sanusi’s suspension was
wholly based on the need for him to step aside while the
weighty charges of financial recklessness, gross misconduct
and persistent disregard for laid down rules and regulations in
the management of the Central Bank made against him by the
Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria and others are
properly investigated.
It is most unfortunate that instead of trying to provide some
reasonable response to the clear and unambiguous query of his
official conduct as Governor of the Central Bank, Mallam
Sanusi has cynically chosen to whip up public sympathy for
himself and anger against the Federal Government by
deliberately misleading unwary Nigerians and the
international community into believing the falsehood that he is
being punished for exposing corruption.
In recent days, the suspended CBN Governor has, following
in the footsteps of others who have an axe to grind with the
government, taken to spreading his false claims and allegations
through gullible foreign media correspondents, telling them
among other things that his threat to force commercial banks
to open up their books to unravel the whereabouts of the
“missing” funds whether $49.8 Billion, $12 Billion or $20
Billion, ultimately led to his suspension.
He also continues to make the mischievous claim that the
government is somehow involved in a scam to divert huge
sums of money from the Federation Account through the
misappropriation of kerosene subsidy funds.
Mallam Sanusi’s allegations are patently untrue. But
Government is making no effort to bury them as he falsely
claims. Relevant committees of the National Assembly are
still investigating the claims and the suspended CBN
Governor remains free to give evidence before them in
support of his allegations.
Furthermore, in keeping with its avowed commitment to full
transparency, openness and accountability in governmental
affairs, the Federal Government has authorized the
engagement of reputable international firms for the
recommended forensic audit of NNPC accounts.
The Presidency condemns Mallam Sanusi’s resort to playing
politics with serious national issues. His suggestion that the
phantom missing funds may have been diverted to fund
campaigns for next year’s general elections is mischievous,
irresponsible and designed to incite other political parties and
members of the public against the Federal Government.
The claim which amounts to cheap blackmail against the
government and was clearly made in furtherance of a selfish
personal agenda is most unbecoming of someone who still holds
the High Office of Governor of the Central Bank of
Nigeria.
The Presidency would not ordinarily have wished to join
issues with Mallam Sanusi who as CBN Governor remains
an appointee of the President, but the very unacceptable
manner in which Sanusi has been misinforming the public
made it imperative that this statement be issued.
Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
March 12, 2014