The suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi, on Wednesday arrived his home state of Kano to a large crowd of supporters and well-wishers in his first visit to the city since his suspension.

Mr. Sanusi was welcomed by traditional rulers, residents and a large crowd of young Nigerians with banners reading ‘We are with you’ ‘You stand by the truth’ ‘You are our Hero’.

A convoy of cars later accompanied him home from the airport. Mr. Sanusi, the holder of the traditional title of Dan Maje Kano, is regarded as a potential heir to the traditional Emirate throne.

Mr. Sanusi was suspended from office last week over alleged financial recklessness by his bank.

But many Nigerians believe he was axed for blowing the whistle on the Nigerian National Petroleum Petroleum Corporation which he alleged has diverted not less than $20 billion of the country’s oil revenues in just under a year.