Nigeria’s Minister for Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, has asked the Nigerian 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).
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.
The preliminary objection, which was filed by the AGF through his lawyers – Mahmud Magaji and Tijanni Gazali, also argued that the Supreme Court lacks jurisdiction for such monetary matters. He said:
- “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.”
What you should know: 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, halting an exparte application brought by three northern states of Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara.
Justice Okoro also adjourned the matter until February 15 for a hearing of the main suit.
Malami is part of our national problems, God will continue to expose them one by one.
They are sadist who enjoy seeing people suffering. For the wicked there shall be no peace.
Malami may well be “part of our national problems” (I personally think he’s one of the worst-ever AGFs), but a POLITICAL Supreme Court is an even bigger national problem.
Nigeria will never progress until we learn to do the right things in the right ways. Monetary (or currency) policy is the sole province of the CBN and therefore the Supreme Court cannot issue an order that in any way changes such policy (and the timeframe for currency exchange is part of this particular policy). The Supreme Court should not be a lawbreaker, by doing through the back door what the law precludes it from doing at the front.
The road to hell is paved with “good intentions”. What next? If the Supreme Court believes a particular presidential candidate will be better for Nigeria, assume INEC’s power and install him?! It’s a slippery slope to disaster, people!