Nigerian Former President Jonathan Denies Sacking Sanusi Over Alleged Missing $49.8bn

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has denied allegations that $49.8 billion was missing from Nigeria’s government coffers during his administration, refuting claims that he sacked the then Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido, for raising the issue.

Speaking at the launch of a book titled “Public Policy and Agents Interests: Perspectives from the Emerging World,” co-authored by former Minister of Finance, Shamshudeen Usman, Jonathan insisted that no such funds were missing and described the allegations as unfounded.

Jonathan clarified that Sanusi, now the Emir of Kano, was suspended, not sacked, following a query from the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) over CBN’s financial infractions.

He emphasized that an internationally recognized audit firm, Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC), had cleared his administration of any missing funds, finding only $1.48 billion unaccounted for by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The former president also dismissed Sanusi’s varying claims about the missing funds, noting how the amount shifted from $49.8 billion to $20 billion, and later $12 billion.

Jonathan recounted how even Germany’s former Chancellor, Angela Merkel, had confronted him over the allegations, to which he responded that such a significant sum could not have disappeared without serious consequences.

The event, which took place in Abuja, also saw the formal unveiling of the Shamsuddeen Usman Foundation, dedicated to promoting education and Artificial Intelligence in Nigeria.