THE people of Odi in Bayelsa State have asked the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to summon the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Lamido Sanusi; and other officers of the CBN over their refusal to pay the people N36.7bn compensation as ordered by the court.Counsel for the Odi community, Mr. Lucious Nwosu, SAN, said Sanusi and others from the CBN were expected to appear in court over their refusal to release the sum as compensation to the people of the area.The court had directed that the sum of N36.7 bn be paid to the Odi community for the invasion of the area by soldiers on November 20, 1999.Nwosu, who spoke with our correspondent in a telephone interview on Monday, said the court would need to invite Sanusi to come and explain why he could not obey the court order.He said, “Court has to invite Lamido Sanusi to come and say why he cannot obey court order in relation to the genocide in Odi community in 1999. They are only custodians of money that belongs to the judgement debtor.“The court has ably ordered that Odi people should be paid and in fact, directed the Central Bank of Nigeria to release the money as the compensation awarded to the people.“Quite unfortunately, CBN, rather than pay the money that is in their custody, have resorted to hiring lawyers and spending tax payers’ money.”
by Chukwudi Akasike
(From Biafra Galaxy)