The former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN governor and Emir of Kano, Mohammed Lamido Sanusi has said the embattled former petroleum resources minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke is “lying” over claims that he (Sanusi) came to lobby her for help over his interest in African Development Bank, AfDB presidency but came up with $20bn missing oil fund allegation because he lost out in getting the job.
Sanusi, speaking with Sunday Telegraph,
said Diezani, battling breast cancer, was being economical with the
truth in her interview with thebossnewspaper.com on his interest and how
he lost the opportunity to head the continental financial institution.
Sanusi said it was not a hidden fact he
expressed interest in the AfDB job when the position became vacant. He
noted that while he expressed lack of interest in a second term as CBN
Governor, he wrote a letter to former President Goodluck Jonathan and
the Senate and also discussed his AfDB ambition extensively with the
then Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed
Adoke.
“It is not something that is hidden that
anybody who is seeking that job must get the support of his country.
Knowing fully that I went to the President with my intention and before I
made the exposure of the $20bn oil deal, Jonathan clearly indicated his
support for me. He even directed Hassan Tukur, his Principal Private
Secretary to write to African heads of state. So, what is Diezani
saying? One can now see that she is lying,” Emir Sanusi told the
newspaper.
He added that it was on record that a
week after he exposed the matter, Jonathan wrote a letter withdrawing
his nomination as Nigeria’s candidate and replaced him with then
Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, who later won the
election.
“My suspension came a week after I made
the disclosure of the missing monies, precisely on February 20, 2014. As
at that time, I was the only candidate from Nigeria gunning for the
AfDB job, but you know one cannot have it when he is suspended. My
passports were all confiscated. Jonathan in trying to punish me denied
me of the job and replaced me with Akin Adesina, who is my personal
friend,” he added.
However, Sanusi said contrary to
Diezani’s submission, he affirmed that there were issues to be cleared
around the subsidy regime under Jonathan.
He declared that if anybody feels affected by the revelation, he or she should come forward and clear their name.
“Certainly, there is nothing personal.
It is our nation’s money we are talking about. One cannot take away the
treasury and expect to go scot-free. He must answer the basic questions.
Everyone is aware that I was punished by former President Jonathan for
exposing the missing $20bn. The punishment after suspending me from the
CBN and taking away my passports was also blocking me from becoming the
AfDB President. But Allah in his mercy today has given me something much
more better than that,” Sanusi stated.
He expressed sympathy for Diezani’s
health condition and wished her quick recovery. He, however, urged
President Muhammadu Buhari to get to the bottom of the matter.
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