Former President Goodluck Jonathan and the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, have clashed once again regarding the alleged theft of $49.8 billion during Jonathan’s administration.
Sanusi, who served as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor from 2009 to 2014, first raised the allegation in 2014, prompting a governmental investigation. He was later placed on indefinite leave, and Godwin Emefiele was appointed in his stead. Sanusi later became the Emir of Kano but was dethroned in 2020 and reinstated earlier this year.
In his recently published book, Public Policy and Agents Interests: Perspectives From The Emerging World, Sanusi reiterated his claims and suggested he was removed for exposing the alleged financial misconduct.
During the book launch in Abuja on September 26, 2024, Jonathan defended his administration, asserting that the allegations were unfounded. He questioned the credibility of the claim, pointing out that Nigeria would not have been able to meet its salary obligations if such a substantial amount had been lost.
Jonathan clarified, “He was not sacked; he was suspended,” and noted that investigations into the matter were never completed due to the time constraints of Sanusi’s tenure. He expressed skepticism about the validity of the $49.8 billion figure, citing inconsistent reports over the years.
Responding shortly after Jonathan’s remarks, Sanusi maintained that he was “constructively sacked” for raising the issue of the missing funds, emphasizing that he holds no grudges against Jonathan.