A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain a suit filed by former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Lamido Sanusi, challenging his suspension.
Sanusi was suspended from office by President Goodluck Jonathan on February 20, 2014, before the end of his tenure which is due June 1, 2014.
In his judgement, Justice Gabriel Kolawole held that the matter was labour and employment -related and ordered for it to be transferred to the National Industrial Court.
The judge held that, in line with Sections 251(1) and 254(c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the proper court, where Sanusi ought to have instituted the suit, was the NIC.
He however noted that the plaintiff was at liberty to challenge his decision at the Court of Appeal.
Justice Kolawole said that he wouldn’t want to make any prejudicial pronouncements before the matter gets to the Industrial Court, and therefore refrained from deciding the case on its merit.
The suspended CBN governor through his counsel, Mr. Kola Awodein (SAN), sued President Jonathan and the Attorney-General of the Federation and the police, demanding his suspension to be declared null and void.
