Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has questioned the suspension of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor Lamido Sanusi Lamido.
The governor said the timing of President Goodluck Jonathan’s action with the ongoing audit of the missing $20 billion from the coffers of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was a ploy to jeopardise the conclusion of the audit.
He said: “Our money was devalued by four points immediately. I don’t understand their economic strategy. If the man is going in June, there must be a sense in the messaging about executive tampering with the independence of the CBN.
“This has economic consequences for investors. This isn’t a suspension but a sack. This is because there was no power to sack him. And they have considered the implication. That’s why they said he should go on suspension.
“For me, really, if someone in the government says some money is missing and, without concluding any investigation, they suspended the person who blew the whistle, then something must be wrong.
“It is when the audit is concluded that they can decide on what to do to the man. But now, before the completion of the audit, they have sacked the man who alerted the head of the government to the fact that some money is missing.
“So, what message is the Presidency sending out to Nigerians on corruption and others who may want to reveal any atrocity committed in the country? The message the Presidency is sending out is that Nigerians should keep quiet whenever they see any corruption perpetrated in the country. That is not a good sign for the economy.”
