Court declines to hear Sanusi’s suit against suspension

A FEDERAL High Court, Abuja Tuesday declined jurisdiction on a suit filed by the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi against his suspension by President Goodluck Jonathan on February 20, 2014.

 Trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, in a ruling that spanned  over two  hours, upheld the submissions of the counsel to the president, Dr. Fabian Ajogwu (SAN) and that of the counsel to the Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN).
 In his preliminary objection filed in opposition to the plaintiff’s originating summons, Ajogwu had argued that the Federal High Court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the suit between Sanusi and the President since it bothers on Labour matters. He subsequently urged the court to decline jurisdiction on it.
In the same vein, the counsel to  the 2nd defendant, Ozekhome, had in the hearing of the matter urged the court to  wash its hands off the case, arguing that it lacks jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
 But the plaintiff had through his counsel urged the court to dismiss the separate objections filed by the defendants.
In his ruling, however, the judge  referred the matter to the National Industrial Court for adjudication.
 The court also faulted the submissions of counsel to Sanusi, Mr. Kola Awodein (SAN) and Mr. AB Mahmoud (SAN) who in their pleadings had said that Sanusi was not an employee of the Federal Government but that of the CBN which he incidentally headed. Upholding the arguments of the counsel to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Umoh (SAN), the court also struck out the name of the IGP sued as 3rd defendant holding that there was no cause of action against the IG.