Violation Of Supreme Court Order On Old Naira Notes Is ‘Mere Rumour’ – Buhari Govt

The Muhammadu Buhari administration on Wednesday told the Supreme Court to regard claims of the violation of its exparte order extending the deadline on the utilization of the old naira notes to February 15, 2023 as “mere rumours.”

Lawyers for the executive branch of government made the submission as the Supreme Court adjourned the suit filed by governors to challenge the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to Wednesday, February 22.

The CBN had originally fixed January 31 as deadline for old notes to be in circulation but extended it in response to pressure from Nigerians.

However, before the February 10 deadline, Kogi, Kaduna and Zamfara States approached the Supreme Court, seeking that the CBN be restrained from going ahead with the deadline.

The court had directed the CBN to rescind its decision pending the hearing of the suit On February 15, but apex court insisted on the deadline, saying on Tuesday that there was no need for another extension.

At the hearing on Wednesday, a seven-man panel presided by Justice Inyang Okoro advised all the state governments represented in the court to follow and abide by the decision to be reached in the motion filed by the Kaduna State Government.

Other states with separate motions on the issue are: Kogi, Zamfara, Niger, Ondo, Ogun

Abdulhakeem Mustapha (SAN) announced appearance for Kaduna State Government, while Damian Dodo (SAN) represented Bayelsa State, seeking to be joined in the matter as co-defendant. He said the application was filed last Friday.

Edo State also joined as co-defendant with the federal government.

Kanu Agabi and Mahmud Magaji (both SANs) announced appearance for the federal government.

Sam Ologun-Orisa (SAN), representing Katsina was delegated by the court to move on behalf of the states seeking to be joined as co-plaintiffs, while Dodo was asked to move on behalf of states seeking to be joined as co-defendants in the matter.

He moved the application supported by 7 paragraphs and affidavits

The panel ordered the amendment of processes to group states – Katsina, Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Ekiti, Cross River and Sokoto – joining as co-plaintiffs to the suit by Kaduna State together.

Contempt of court are mere rumours.

Mustapha drew the panel’s attention to the federal government’s alleged flouting of the order of the court last week by the non-compliance to the extension of the use of the old naira notes.

But Agabi objected, arguing that the claim of violation of the Supreme Court order on the naira is based on “rumours out there.”

The panel said the issue cannot be attended to immediately until all the processes are filed and served.

But Mustapha insisted that the federal government is acting in executive recklessness by going ahead to ignore the order.

He therefore insisted that the extension should subsist.

The panel advised that the processes be filed and served on Friday and replies done on Monday to enable hearing on Wednesday.

Emmanuel Ukala (SAN) sought to move a separate application by the Rivers State Government.

Similarly, counsel to the Kano State Government, Sunusi Musa (SAN) sought to move their separate motion challenging the powers of the federal government to unilaterally impose the currency policy on citizens of the state without the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and Council of State.

But Justice Okoro advised both Rivers and Kano to consolidate their suits with the other already existing suits.

The panel fixed all the suits for hearing on Wednesday, February 22.

With additional reports from Daily Trust

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