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Nigeria

Secret Service confiscated my passport: Lamido Sanusi

Nigeria's former Central Bank Governor, Lamido Sanusi was prevented from boarding a plane to Saudi Arabia by security services on Saturday evening. Sanusi's passport was confiscated at Kano International Airport, in northern Nigeria. He is threatening legal action against the government, again.

Nigeria's Central Bank Governor Lamido Sanusi in October 2013
Nigeria's Central Bank Governor Lamido Sanusi in October 2013 Reuters/Stefan Wermuth/Files
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Lamido Sanusi was about to board a plane at Kano International Airport in northern Nigeria on Saturday evening but was prevented by secret service personnel, whom he says were acting on presidential orders.

Sanusi was planning to attend the lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia before spending several months in France where he was to teach at a university in Bordeaux.

Sanusi has told RFI he has been the victim of a witch hunt by the presidency since he accused officials from the state oil company of siphoning off fourteen billion euros.

He was sacked by President Goodluck Jonathan in February and his diplomatic passport was seized.

But last month a Nigerian court ruled that the seizure was illegal, and ordered the government to pay Sanusi damages.

Sanusi told RFI he intends to take legal action and seek assistance from the international community.

If you take on these vested interests, they will use the entire machinery of the police, the state security... and the judiciary to get at you.

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Interview with Nigeria's Lamido Sanusi

Rosie Collyer

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