New notes, Gov. Emefiele of CBN and President Buhari
The Supreme Court has today, Wednesday adjourned till February 22, 2023, the hearing of the suit filed by Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara States against the Federal Government seeking a restraining order to stop the full implementation of the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The suit was initially adjourned by the apex court till today on February 8, 2023, with all parties involved present.
The Governors of Kaduna and Kogi States, Nasir el-Rufai and Yahaya Bello, were in court for the resumed hearing on Wednesday.
Also present were two Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Douye Diri of Baylesa State and Godwin Obaseki of Edo State.
The two PDP governors who were seeking to be joined in the suit filed by the governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling party at the centre.
However, shortly after hearing started, the Seven-Man Panel of the apex court, led by Justice John Inyang Okoro, adjourned the matter till February 22, 2023.
This would mean that till February 22, the interim order subsists as Supreme Court says Old naira notes remain legal tender.
Meanwhile. Ogun State Government has also filed an application at the Supreme Court of Nigeria seeking to be joined with Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara States, in the suit against the Federal Government of Nigeria over the validity deadline for old N200, N500 and N1000.
Already, at least seven All Progressives Congress (APC) states including Kano, Ondo, and Ekiti have sued the Federal Government while Rivers State Government said it will join the suit against the Federal Government and the apex bank.
Ogun State, in a Motion of Notice filed by its counsel, Afe Babalola and Co, on February 13, sought to be joined as 4th plaintiff/applicant, in a suit number SC/CV/162/2023.
The applicant in the Notice further stated that it sought to be a co-plaintiff for the just and effective determination in the suit instituted by the other three plaintiffs.
The plaintiff also notified the Supreme Court that it shall rely on all the processes already filed in this action in addition to the affidavit in support of the application.
Listing 13 grounds upon which the application was predicated, the plaintiff submitted among others, that the implementation of the Federal Government-sanctioned policy has thus far negatively affected the citizens all over the federation which includes Ogun State, and left several residents of the state stranded, cash strapped and frustrated leading to riots, grievous interruption of commercial activities, and a gradual economic downturn in the state.
