….Asks FG to make money available
The Supreme Court on Wednesday disagreed with the Central Bank of Nigeria on the validity of the old naira.
Justice John Okoro Justice Okoro, who presided over a seven-member panel of the court, said there was no need for a renewal of the court’s order, stressing that its February 8 order barring the Federal Government and its agencies from enforcing the February 10 deadline for the use of old 200, 500 and 1000 naira notes still subsist.
Okoro made the clarification on Wednesday following complaint by lawyer to Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara states, Abdulhakeem Mustapha (SAN).
Mustapha told the Apex Court judges that the Fed Govt and its agencies have failed to comply with the order and have allegedly directed the rejection of the old notes.
Mustapha who on behalf of his clients filed a notice of none-compliance with the order of the court order made on February 8, urged the court to take action against the respondent to protect the dignity of the court.
He said, “That order has been flouted by the government. We are talking of executive lawlessness here. We have filed an affidavit to that effect…We want the court to renew the order for parties to be properly guided.”
The justice asked Mustapha to filed a proper application to put forward his complaints and to enable the respondent respond appropriately.
Justice Okoro however said there was no need for a renewal of the court’s order.
He explained that the order made by the court on February 8 was made pending the determination of the motion for injunctions filed by the plaintiff, the order still subsists since the motion was not yet heard.
The court had, in the February 8 ruling, said: “after a careful consideration of this ex-parte application, and the grounds in support of same, this court finds that there is real urgency for this court to intervene by the grant of this application.
“Accordingly, this application is hereby granted as prayed.
“That is to say, an order of interim injunction restraining the Federal Government of Nigeria, either by itself or acting through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and/or the commercial banks, its agents; agencies, corporations, ministries, parastatals, organizations or through any person or persons (natural and artificial) howsoever, from suspending or determining or ending on the 10th of February 2023 the timeframe within which the now older versions of the 200, 500 and 1000 denominations of the naira may no longer be legal tender, pending the hearing and determination of the plaintiffs/applicants’ motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.”
The Supreme Court has however fixed February 22 for hearing of the suit filed Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara states challenging the propriety the naira swap policy of the Federal Government.
The court chose the date after joining the Attorneys General of Katsina, Lagos, Cross River, Ondo, Ogun, Ekiti and Sokoto states as co-plaintiffs in the earlier suit filed by Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara states.
The court also joined the Attorneys General of Edo and Bayelsa states as co-respondents. Both states elected to side with the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) originally listed as the sole respondent.
The court ordered that the suits filed by separately by Nasarawa, Rivers and Kano states on the same issue be consolidated with the one filed by Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara states.
The court ordered parties to file all necessary documents before the hearing set for next Wednesday.
Justice Okoro, before adjourning, told lawyer to the AGF, Kanu Agabi (SAN) to advise his client to ensure the availability of currency for the people.
“Tell your client to let people have money. If they go to the ATM and the plaintiffs will come and withdraw the case. Make money available to the poor masses.
“You should know that a hungry man is an angry man. I say no more,” he said.
Responding, Agabi said Nigerians were only blaming the government for their poverty.
“Many people don’t have money. They blame it on the Fed Govt and the AGF. I don’t have money too.
“Things have been bad for long. It is not today that the problems started,” Agabi said.
Governors Nasir El-Rufai and Yahaya Bello of Kaduna and Kogi states were in court to witness proceedings.
Speaking after the court proceedings, Bello said the legal tussle is about people who have money but could not access it.
He stressed that states were not at war with the Fed Govt over its cashless policy.
The governor said the major concern of the governors is about its negative impact on the citizens, who are now denied access to their funds.
