Central Bank Governor, Mallam Lamido Sanusi has stated that his call for a special examination of the books of banks in order to trace the $20 billion missing from the NNPC led to his sack.
He says he made the call for the extraordinary audit on February 11th during a semi-monthly meeting with bank chiefs. Sanusi says he “threatened to open the books of the bankers, to trace the money.”
The New York Times has said that one of the bank chief’s present at the meeting said, “He (Sanusi) made it clear to them that the CBN would need to unravel what was going on, and they should cooperate.”
Sanusi said two of the bank chief’s reported his planned audit to the controversial Petroleum Minister, Diezani Madueke. Sanusi was suspended less than 10 days after the meeting and he was never able to trace the looted funds.
Sanusi says his suspension is a move by members of the cabal to discredit him.
However Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati has denied the allegations.