Why Court rejects exparte motion to reinstate Sanusi

CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido

An Abuja High Court on Wednesday rejected an ex-parte motion brought by the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Lamido Sanusi. Mr. Sanusi asked the court to set aside his suspension from office.
Mr. Sanusi was suspended by President Goodluck Jonathan last Thursday over alleged financial recklessness and official misconduct.
He filed the suit on Monday to challenge his suspension. He had not only asked for reinstatement, but also an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the president, the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police from stopping him from performing his duties as CBN Governor.
Mr. Sanusi asked the court to grant him his prayers because the delay in doing that could cause irreparable and serious damage and mischief on him in the performance of his statutory functions.
But when the case came up on Wednesday, Justice Gabriel Kolawole  refused Mr. Sanusi’s prayer. He instead ordered that Mr. Jonathan and other defendants be put on notice.
He said the notice would enable them to appear before the court to explain why Mr. Sanusi’s prayer should not be granted.
Mr. Kolawole said it would be difficult to grant interim orders without hearing the defendants.
He stated that after the defendants had been put on notice, he would rule on whether or not the court had jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
He therefore fixed March 12 for Messrs Sanusi, Jonathan and others to argue the motion.