The acting governor of the Central Bank, Ajmal Ahmadi, was referred to the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) on Sunday by a senate commission. The action was taken over Ahmadi’s recent questionable dismissals and appointments at the bank.
Senator Zalmai Zabuli, the head of the Senate Commission on Hearing Complaints, in Sunday’s session said that Ahmadi has dismissed experienced and high-ranking officials of the Central Bank without “a justified reason.”
Zabuli also said that when Ahmadi was the acting minister of commerce he dismissed 21 employees of the Ministry “illegally.”
Recently, Ahmadi was disqualified by the Afghan parliament over lack of accountability.
Five officials of the bank, including the deputy governor, Wahid Nosher, have been removed from their posts recently.
On June 30, the Central Bank leadership defended the dismissal of some of its top people, saying they occurred because of a decision by the Supreme Council of the bank.
The dismissals were called “unconstitutional” by critics.
Ahmadi, in a tweet on June 30 said the first four officials were removed based on the decision of the Central Bank’s Supreme Council “in connection with seven corruption cases, three notifications, and two warnings.”
Ahmadi said the case of the “former” deputy governor Wahid Nosher was sent to the Presidential Palace.
Based on Article Seven of Da Afghanistan Bank Law (Central Bank), the bank is led by a group known as the Supreme Council, which has seven members. This includes the governor – who also heads the Supreme Council– the first deputy, and five other members (including a second deputy).
Article Seven of the law also says that all members of the Supreme Council shall be appointed by the president “with the consent of the parliament.”
Each member of the council can serve for a five-year term that is extendable, based on this law.
Article 12 of the law says that the governor, the first deputy governor, and any other member of the Supreme Council shall be suspended or removed by the president.
But some of the dismissed officials of the bank once again accused those involved of creating a “conspiracy” against them.
Legal experts have said that Ahmadi’s appointment as acting governor of the bank is in contravention of the law, as the Central Bank should be led by a full-fledged governor, not an acting chief.
