FG Returns Sanusi’s Passport And Seized Salaries

The Federal Government has announced plans to pay the withheld salaries as well as return the ceased passport of the Emir of Kano Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Nation reports.
A source within the Presidency said the decision is part of President Goodluck Jonathan’s total reconciliation with the Emir, who was the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The Emir of Kano pays a visit to President Jonathan. Photo: SaharaReporters

It was gathered that the olive branch is meant to ensure the Emir’s neutrality during next year’s elections although the president is aware of his closeness to the leaders of the major opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The source revealed that after the open meeting last Thursday, the President and the Emir met at the inner recess of the Presidential Villa for about five minutes, adding that some political leaders from Kano, who witnessed the session, were all excited that there is a new understanding between the President and the Emir.
“Prior to the meeting, there had been apprehensions on likely hostile crowd against the President in Kano during the 2015 campaign. With the rapprochement, the Emir’s travel passport and his withheld salaries and allowances will be paid. These are some of the gains of the meeting. If the traveling documents are released, the Emir will be able to travel abroad for checkup and to meet his international friends who are desirous of investing in the Emirate,” the source said.
It would be recalled that the State Security Service (SSS) in February seized Sanusi’s passports when he was still the governor of CBN. The agency on May 14, 2014, also prevented Sanusi from boarding a Turkish Airline flight to Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj (Umrah).
Meanwhile, in reaction to the seizure of the passports, Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos in April directed the Federal Government, the police and the SSS to release Sanusi’s passport to him in February.
In a related development, the President also promised to relocate the Kano Central Prison for better security at the Emir’s palace. The prison which is over 80 years old is to be relocated to protect the ancient city and the Emir’s Palace against attacks from the Boko Haram terrorists and other security treats.
The relocation is allegedly in response to the assassination attempt of the late Emir of Kano, Alh. Ado Bayero towards the end of his reign. A security report revealed that the Emir’s Palace was usually under threats because of the nearby prison facility where some suspected Boko Haram members are being detained.

It was gathered that the prison which was built with 10 cells during the colonial days, has 1,254 inmates, 950 of who are awaiting trial with 800 in detention for capital crimes. The prison is reportedly overcrowded.
However, despite President Jonathan’s reconciliation with  the Emir, officials of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) have claimed they will support any presidential candidate that run on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015 elections.