Nigeria's president asked central bank chief Lamido Sanusi to resign over a leaked letter about missing oil funds, a source has confirmed to the BBC.
But Mr Sanusi refused, telling Goodluck Jonathan that others could have leaked his memo about the state oil firm's failure to account for $50bn (£30bn).
Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo referred to this in a letter criticising Mr Jonathan's leadership last month.
President Jonathan was angered by the criticism, denying government fraud.
In a rebuttal letter before Christmas, the president said that Mr Obasanjo, who is also a member of the governing People's Democratic Party, was threatening "national security" by whipping up opposition to his administration.
He dismissed allegations of "high corruption" in government and said that Mr Sanusi's allegations - made in a letter dated 25 September - were "spurious".
A respected banker, Mr Sanusi has spearheaded reforms in Nigeria's troubled banking sector since his appointment in 2009.
'Heated exchange' According to Nigeria's This Day newspaper, President Jonathan demanded the bank chief's resignation over the phone, asking him to leave by 31 December 2013.
But in a heated exchange, Mr Sanusi refused to leave his post before his term ends later this year, a source confirmed to the BBC.
Mr Sanusi said that about $10bn (£6bn) was still unaccounted for by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and expressed surprise that those responsible were not being asked to resign instead.
Mr Jonathan accused the Central Bank governor of leaking the letter to Mr Obasanjo after which the full letter was published in the Nigerian media.
Mr Sanusi said the leak could have come from the presidency or ministry of finance and the blame could not lie with him.
Nigeria has recently been listed among countries that could become the next set of economic giants in years to come - known as the "Mint" nations.
Correspondent says deep divisions have engulfed the PDP over the last year amid fears that it could lose the election under Mr Jonathan's leadership.
Posted: at 9-01-2014 07:04 PM (11 years ago) | Hero
Chylove247 at 10-01-2014 07:25 AM (11 years ago) (f)
Ok
Posted: at 10-01-2014 07:25 AM (11 years ago) | Gistmaniac
katdeluna2 at 10-01-2014 07:41 AM (11 years ago) (f)
Dis gudluck must be an unfortunate beign. Stella Oduah stole over N255 million nd is using a fake certificate bt he is mute abt it. His wife's aids ar moving abt with ammunition he turned a deaf ear. But he wants Sanusi 2 resign, hes' jst a desperate person
Posted: at 10-01-2014 07:41 AM (11 years ago) | Upcoming
paulohking at 10-01-2014 08:11 AM (11 years ago) (m)
Quote from: katdeluna2 on 10-01-2014 07:41 AM
Dis gudluck must be an unfortunate beign. Stella Oduah stole over N255 million nd is using a fake certificate bt he is mute abt it. His wife's aids ar moving abt with ammunition he turned a deaf ear. But he wants Sanusi 2 resign, hes' jst a desperate person
I 100% agree with u
Posted: at 10-01-2014 08:11 AM (11 years ago) | Hero
edusouls at 10-01-2014 08:23 AM (11 years ago) (m)
This is the type of leaders africa elects, vry dumb and unintelligent people, but in the organized world leaders re sieved thoroughly to get the best of quality! Our president is jus confused and dosent even have a laid out plan on how to do his job, look at him leaving major issues of clear corruption and asking cbn governor to resign over a leaked letter, chai dis country is very sick with lots of sick people inside..
Posted: at 10-01-2014 08:23 AM (11 years ago) | Upcoming
That is Goodluck for you. The most intelligent person ever to rule Nigeria. With all the corrupt surrogates around him, his government is unique. I know he cannot go along with un-intelligent people like CBN Governor.
IN ZAKA FADI, FADI GASKIYA, KOMAI TA JA MA A YI MAKA
Posted: at 10-01-2014 08:33 AM (11 years ago) | Hero
alexy2012 at 10-01-2014 09:28 AM (11 years ago) (m)
What an irony, Stella Oduah with allegations on N255M+ fraud and certificate forgery is being protected while Sanusi who raised alarm on missing fund is being forced to resign. What a way to fight corruption. The president should just send a letter to The Senate requesting to remove Sanusi and replace him with Stella Oduah. So that the economy to witness the required growth as promised by GEJ.
Posted: at 10-01-2014 09:28 AM (11 years ago) | Newbie
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