LAGOS \u2013 Nigeria\u2019s former Central Bank chief, Lamido Sanusi on Sunday
\ndescribed the president who ousted him as a simple man trying to do well
\nwho has been undermined by incompetent and fraudulent aides.
\nSanusi was suspended by President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday over
\nalleged financial misconduct, a move seen by many analysts as politically
\nmotivated.
\nSanusi has accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) of
\nmisappropriating $20 billion (14.5 billion euros), allegations that earned
\nhim powerful enemies across the government.
\nIn an interview with AFP in Lagos, Sanusi said many of the people advising
\nJonathan are sycophants who do not speak frankly or honestly about the
\nextent of corruption in government.
\n\u201cWhen you sit with President Jonathan himself he appears a nice simple
\nperson who is trying his best to do his best,\u201d Sanusi said.
\n\u201cHis greatest failing obviously is that he is surrounded by people who are
\nextremely incompetent, who are extremely fraudulent and whom he trusts.\u201d
\nSanusi learned of his removal from office while in Niger on Thursday and
\nimmediately returned to Lagos, where agents from the Directorate of State
\nServices (DSS) seized his passport.
\nOn Friday, he secured a temporary protective order from the Federal High
\nCourt in Lagos barring Nigerian intelligence agents from the DSS or police
\nfrom arresting him.
\n\u201cI thought taking away my passport was the beginning of infringement on my
\nfundamental human rights,\u201d Sanusi told AFP, explaining why he had already
\nsought court protection.
\nWhile no charges have been filed against him, Sanusi said he was prepared
\nfor whatever attacks may come.
\n\u201cThat we are here today means that I have taken the decision that I will
\nface the consequences of whatever I do,\u201d he said.
\nHe said his \u201cfierce independence\u201d had been an annoyance to the government
\nsince 2009, culminating with his sustained, public attack on the NNPC,
\nwidely seen as the epicentre of corruption in Africa\u2019s top oil producer.
\n\u201cIf I am sacrificed in whatever way, my freedom or my life\u2026 if it does
\nlead to better accountability it will be well worth it,\u201d he said<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LAGOS \u2013 Nigeria\u2019s former Central Bank chief, Lamido Sanusi on Sunday described the president who ousted him as a simple man trying to do well who has been undermined by…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23113,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23232","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n