Suspended Director-General of Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mounir Gwarzo, has headed for the court to challenge his suspension.
On Monday Gwarzo filed a suit before the National Industrial Court, Abuja, challenging his suspension by the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun.
Gwarzo was suspended from office in November 2017 over financial misappropriation, and he is seeking the court’s nod to determine some issues pertaining to Adeosun’s action.
He wants, for instance, the court to determine whether the Minister of finance has the power to suspend him as Director-General, an appointment made by President of Nigeria and confirmed by the Senate.
He is also asking the court to determine whether the Public Service Rule, relied upon by the Minister to suspend him, is applicable to persons holding the office of Director General, SEC.
Similarly, Gwarzo asked the court to determine whether the Administrative Panel of Inquiry set up by Adeosun was properly constituted to be fair and impartial.
Counsel to Gwarzo, Abdulhakim Mustapha, said his client was seeking, among other reliefs, an order of the court reinstating him as the Director General, SEC.
He is also seeking for an order of the court for the payment of all his entitlements, emoluments, allowances and other perquisites of the office of Director General of SEC for the entire period he was under suspension.
Mustapha also said his client was additionally seeking an order of court setting aside the entire proceedings of Administrative Panel of Inquiry constituted by the Minister.
The SEC, Minister of Finance and Attorney- General of the Federation are joined in the case.