- Bank shareholders sue Sanusi for N10bn
A mysterious fire struck the Marina, Lagos office of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday, few hours to the appearance of suspended CBN, governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi before the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, FRC, which is investigating him and others.
According to a staff of the bank who spoke on condition of anonymity, the fire, which started after close of work around 5:40pm, was sparked by a power upsurge in the branch supporting office located on the first floor of the building.
The spokesperson of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, the fire was “contained within the area” where it started.
As at the time of filing this report, Farinloye, who noted that the fire was contained and “completely under control” said the firemen were “clamping down the offices by breaking the windows and doors to check if any smaller fire is ongoing.”
He however noted that no one was trapped or wounded by the fire, although one of the state firemen who collapsed due to extreme suffocation was rescued and taken to the hospital.
Policemen within the vicinity of the building assaulted some photojournalists and onlookers at the scene who attempted taking pictures of the burning building.
Meanwhile, the FRCN has invited Sanusi, the Managing Director of the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc, Mr. Erastus Akingbola, the Managing Director of Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, the just retired MD of Access Bank, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imokhuede for questioning as the council begins extensive investigations into the controversial acquisition of Intercontinental Bank by Access Bank, as well as other activities of the CBN for financial years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012.
Also invited for questioning are the Acting Governor of the CBN, Dr. Sarah Alade; former Deputy Governor in charge of Operations, Mr. Tunde Lemo; present Deputy Governor in charge of Operations, Dr. Kingsley Moghalu; Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Alhaji Suleiman Barau; former Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Security, Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC), Mr. Ehi’ E. Okoyomon; Alhaji Ahmed Barmali; Mr. Igho Dafinone; Mr. Babatunde Dayo; Mr. Gabriel Okpeh and Mr. Ezekiel Ejedele.
They are scheduled to appear before investigators at the FRC’s headquarters in Lagos today and tomorrow, according to the council.
“We wish to inform the under-listed persons that the FRC is investigating the activities of the CBN for financial years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012. This investigation includes related matters arising from transactions and events, which impacted on 2011
and 2012 from earlier years and have implications for later periods,” the advertorial said.
Sanusi was suspended by President Goodluck Jonathan a few weeks ago following his indictment for “financial recklessness and misconduct” by the FRC. A few weeks before his suspension Sanusi had alleged that $20 billion oil revenue was missing.
As for Mr. Imoukhuede and Mr. Wigwe, the duo allegedly used a company called United Alliance Company of Nigeria to borrow over N16 billion from Intercontinental Bank which were allegedly written off by the CBN before the forced controversial acquisition of the bank by Access.
It was learnt that top management of one other bank that allegedly played key roles in the above transactions have been summoned to Sanusi was suspended by President Goodluck Jonathan a few weeks ago following his indictment for “financial recklessness and misconduct” by the FRC.
Sanusi has however denied any wrongdoing. Some analysts have suggested that he was suspended because he blew the whistle on an alleged “missing $20 billion” proceed from the sale of crude. The Presidency however, insists that Sanusi’s suspension had nothing to do with his criticisms of the government.
Also, three shareholders of the defunct Intercontinental Bank, Plc have dragged suspended governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and two others before a Federal High Court, Abuja over alleged illegal sale and takeover of the bank by Access Bank.
Joined in the suit are the CBN and Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, as 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively.
The plaintiffs, Abdullahi Sani, Adaeze Onwuegbusi and Chijioke Ezeikpe through their counsel, Chris Uche, SAN, demanded the sum of N10 billion as special and general damages against Sanusi for the breaches culminating in the wrongful takeover of the bank Plc by Access Bank.
They also want the court to order CBN to immediately recover the sum of N25.1 billion together with interest accruing still being owed by the trio of Mr. Aig-Aigboje Imokhuede, Mr. Herbert Wigwe and Senator Saraki.
When the matter came up for hearing yesterday, the plaintiffs’ counsel, Uche prayed the court for leave to serve Sanusi through a substituted means on ground that his present place of abode after his suspension was not known.
Uche further prayed the court to serve the application on Sanusi through his last office address at the CBN and that the application should be pasted on the Notice Board or be given to an adult in the bank.
In his short ruling, the trial judge, Justice A.R Mohammed, granted the plaintiffs’ prayer and ordered that the court process be served on Sanusi through his last office address at the CBN.
He later adjourned till May 14 for hearing.
The post FIRE GUTS CBN LAGOS OFFICE, AS SANUSI’S PROBE BEGINS appeared first on Nigeria pilot.