Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati has stated that contrary to speculation that Mallam Lamido Sanusi was suspended from his post due to his whistle blowing activities, it was instead because he was involved in running the Central Bank of Nigeria improperly and with impunity.
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, Abati said, “There are all kinds of petitions against the suspended CBN governor, not just from Akingbola. There were so many allegations along the same line of breaches against him.
“There were complaints by people from the CBN and that is why the letter suspending him was very clear. In fact, that letter was like passing a vote of no confidence in Sanusi’s tenure.
“That is what is in the official record of the government: that he ran the place (CBN) aground; that he ran the place with impunity; that he ran the place recklessly; that he ran the place without due recourse to its board .”
Abati added, “Investigations are still continuing. In fact, if you read that report again, the first paragraph under recommendations asked for detailed investigations. “It is just commonsensical that if there is such a general indictment, the objective of government is not to shut down the CBN. In a situation like this, it makes sense that head is usually the symbol and investigations are continuing.
“It is not as if Sanusi has been removed, he has just been suspended to allow for further investigation. You can be sure that if any other official is indicted, such a person will not be protected.”