Sanusi: Legal Battle Moves To Industrial Court
The legal battle over the suspension of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi on Friday shifted to the National Industrial Court siting in Abuja following the decision of a Federal High Court which declined the jurisdiction to hear the matter but transfered it to the industrial court.
There are however indications that even the industrial may not handle the matter as the suspended governor of the apex bank and the federal government have both filed applications before the industrial court asking the court to stay proceedings in the matter as both had filed notices of appeal challenging the decision of the federal high court.
On the part of Sanusi, his contention is that the federal high court has jurisdiction to entertain his case. He relied on the provision of section 251 of the Nigerian constitution which gives the federal high court jurisdiction to entertain matters in which the federal government or agencies are party.
On the other hand, the federal government is appealing the decision of Justice Gabriel Kolawole which transfered the case to the industrial court. Government contention is that since the federal high court held that it lacks the jurisdiction to entertain Sanusi's case, it ought to have struck the matter out rather than transfer it to the industrial court.
The government also contends that the trial court erred in striking out the Inspector General of Police from the suit before transferring the matter to the industrial court. It argues that the trial court had no business has no business transferring the suit piecemeal and in such a manner that it appeared that it is making out a case contrary to what Sanusi filed before it.
Mr. Mike Ozhekome, a senior advocate who represented the federal government at the today's proceedings pointed out that Sanusi's case was instituted against 3 parties and not 2.
The President of the court, Justice Adejumo, acknowledged the pending applications by Sanusi and the federal government wherein both parties are seeking stay of proceedings on the matter and adjourned to 13th June, 2014 to hear both applications before determining how to proceed with the matter.
As the legal tussle continues, the tenure of Sanusi as the apex bank governor expires on 3rd of June. He had dragged the President, the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police before a federal high court in Abuja and urged the court to restrain them from giving effect to his purported suspension from office as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, pending the determination of his suit.
He also wanted the court to make an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants from obstructing,disturbing, stopping or preventing him from in any manner whatsoever from performing the functions of his office as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and enjoying in full, the statutory powers and privileges attached to the office of the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria.
There are however indications that even the industrial may not handle the matter as the suspended governor of the apex bank and the federal government have both filed applications before the industrial court asking the court to stay proceedings in the matter as both had filed notices of appeal challenging the decision of the federal high court.
On the part of Sanusi, his contention is that the federal high court has jurisdiction to entertain his case. He relied on the provision of section 251 of the Nigerian constitution which gives the federal high court jurisdiction to entertain matters in which the federal government or agencies are party.
On the other hand, the federal government is appealing the decision of Justice Gabriel Kolawole which transfered the case to the industrial court. Government contention is that since the federal high court held that it lacks the jurisdiction to entertain Sanusi's case, it ought to have struck the matter out rather than transfer it to the industrial court.
The government also contends that the trial court erred in striking out the Inspector General of Police from the suit before transferring the matter to the industrial court. It argues that the trial court had no business has no business transferring the suit piecemeal and in such a manner that it appeared that it is making out a case contrary to what Sanusi filed before it.
Mr. Mike Ozhekome, a senior advocate who represented the federal government at the today's proceedings pointed out that Sanusi's case was instituted against 3 parties and not 2.
The President of the court, Justice Adejumo, acknowledged the pending applications by Sanusi and the federal government wherein both parties are seeking stay of proceedings on the matter and adjourned to 13th June, 2014 to hear both applications before determining how to proceed with the matter.
As the legal tussle continues, the tenure of Sanusi as the apex bank governor expires on 3rd of June. He had dragged the President, the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police before a federal high court in Abuja and urged the court to restrain them from giving effect to his purported suspension from office as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, pending the determination of his suit.
He also wanted the court to make an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants from obstructing,disturbing, stopping or preventing him from in any manner whatsoever from performing the functions of his office as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and enjoying in full, the statutory powers and privileges attached to the office of the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria.
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