Nigeria’s Minister for Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, has asked the Supreme Court to dismiss a lawsuit by three sates (Kaduna, Zamfara, and Kogi States) over the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The preliminary objection was filed on Wednesday by the AGF through his lawyers – Mahmud Magaji and Tijanni Gazali.
No reasonable cause: In court filings dated February 8, 2023, Malami argued that the plaintiffs have not shown any reasonable cause of action against the defendant and that the Supreme Court lacks jurisdiction for such monetary matters.
“The plaintiffs have equally not shown the reasonable cause of action against the defendant. The claims or reliefs are not against the federation, but the Federal Government and its Agency, the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria is distinct from the Federation or the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Plaintiffs have no grievance whatsoever against the Federation of Nigeria. This suit has disclosed no dispute that invokes this (Supreme) Court’s original jurisdiction as constitutionally defined.”
Nigeria’s Supreme Court on Wednesday temporarily halted any plans to ban the use of the old naira notes across the country.
The ruling was issued on Wednesday morning by a seven-member panel led by Justice John Okoro.
In an interview with Arise Television, Thursday, Dele Farotimi, a retired lawyer faulted the move by the three state governors saying it has nothing to do with the masses, but everything to do with their selfish political interest.
Farotili also pointed out that the Supreme’ Court’s pronouncement on the case shows the rut in the system, which according to him has permeated the ‘hallowed’ Chamber.