Sanusi’s Case Transferred To Industrial Court

Justice Gabriel Kolawole of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has declined jurisdiction in the suit filed  by suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, challenging his suspension from office by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Sanusi was suspended from office about two months ago over allegation of financial recklessness.
Shortly after his suspension, he rushed to the court to challenge the decision of the president to suspend him from office.Justice Kolawole, who declined jurisdiction in the matter, however, transferred the case to the National Industrial Court for adjudication.
While declining jurisdiction, the court held that the CBN is a creation of the National Assembly and as a result has become an agency of the federal government in line with Section 251 of the 1999 Constitution.
The trial judge further held that Sanusi by inference is an agent of the federal government and that the issue of his suspension has become a labour-related matter.

The court invoked Section 24(3) of the National Industrial Act NIC 2006 and transferred the case to the Industrial Court for adjudication, so that all the issues raised by both parties will be resolved there.
On the inclusion of the inspector-general of police in the suit, the court held that the plaintiff has no cause of action against the IGP. He said the IGP should not have been joined as a party in the matter.
The court, therefore, struck out the name of the IGP as a party in the suit.
Justice Kolawole further held that the plaintiff was able to establish a cause of action against President Goodluck Jonathan and the attorney-general of the federation (AGF).
Sanusi had joined President Jonathan, the AGF and the inspector-general of police (IGP) as defendants in the suit.
Before the court delivered its verdict yesterday, Sanusi, through his counsel, Mr Kola Awodein (SAN), had submitted that the president lacked the powers to unilaterally suspend the CBN governor despite his alleged offence.