ABUJA– The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, said it would not allow the Federal Government and states of the federation to turn the Judiciary to a scapegoat in the legal dispute that is currently trailing the ban on use of the N200, N500 and N1000 banknotes as valid legal tenders.

Justice Inyang Okoro, who is heading a seven-man panel of the apex court, made the declaration while consolidating various suits that different states filed to halt the full implementation of the Naira swap policy that was recently introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

The court had shortly before it stood down its proceedings to allow all the states it joined as interested parties in the matter, to regularise their processes, bemoaned the fact that the dispute has placed the judiciary in the eye of the storm.

The Attorney-General of Lagos State, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, had before the court went on 10 minutes short break, drew attention to the fact that it had yet to receive any process from FG, in respect of the case.

Onigbanjo noted that with the development, the planned hearing of the consolidated suits of the states may be hampered.

However, before the Lagos AG could conclude his submission, the apex court panel restated its resolve to ensure that the matter was expeditiously heard and determined.

“We want to make it very clear that we are going to hear this matter today because we don’t want a situation where the judiciary will be made a scapegoat.

“With the way this matter is going, they want to make the judiciary a scapegoat but we can’t allow that.

“We are going to hear everything and take our decision. If you have a contempt proceeding, we will also hear it today”, leader of the panel, Justice Okoro stated.

Though the court initially said it would no longer allow any state to join the case as interested party, however, upon its resumed proceedings after the break, it okayed a joinder application that was filed by Abia State.

Counsel to Abia state, Mrs. Udochi Iheanachor told the court that her client had an application it filed on Tuesday, applied to be allowed to consolidate its position with other states challenging the new monetary policy by the CBN.

Though Plateau state attempted to also join in the suit, the apex court declined.

It asked all other states to await its decision on the matter.

Meanwhile, Zamfara state, through its lawyer, Mr. Abiodun Owonikoko, SAN, urged the apex court to set-aside the broadcast that President Muhammadu Bihari made on February 16, wherein he okayed only the old N200 banknote to remain a legal tender till April 10.

Owonikoko, SAN, argued that the President’s directive was a direct affront on the interim order of the apex court that restrained FG from proceeding with the full implementation of the CBN’s monetary policy.

However, on its part, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the case of the plaintiffs for want of competence.

In his Preliminary Objection that was moved by Mr. Tijjani Gazali, SAN, the AGF, maintainedthat the Supreme Court lacked the requisite jurisdiction to entertain the dispute.

Listing his grounds for challenging power of the Supreme Court to intervene in the matter, Malami, accused the plaintiffs of opposing FG’s power, through its agency, the CBN, to withdraw old banknotes and introduce new ones.

According to him, “The Plaintiffs’ suit is about the power vested on the Central Bank of Nigeria by the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007 to call in its Banknotes and introduce new ones.

“This suit as presently constituted, falls under section 251(1)(a)(p)(q) & (r) of the Constitution (exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal High Court) by virtue of the subject matter and parties.

“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 Court’s original jurisdiction as constitutionally defined. This suit is an abuse of judicial process.

The Plaintiff have no locus standi to institute this action.

“The Plaintiffs have no reasonable cause of action against the Defendant”, Malami argued.

The Plaintiffs however urged the apex court not to exercise any favourable discretion to FG which they argued acted in contempt of a subsisting order of the court.

Lagos told the court that its case was different, lamenting that the new monetary policy by the CBN constrained it from carrying out its statutory functions as a state.

It will be recalled that the court had earlier joined seven states- Lagos, Cross River, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo, Sokoto and President Buhari’s homestate, Katsina, as parties to the suit that was originally filed by three northern states- Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara

Though only the AGF was initially cited as the sole defendant in the matter, the apex court okayed requests by Edo and Bayelsa states to be allowed to join the suit to support FG as co-Plaintiffs.

On the other hand, Rivers, Kano, Jigawa and Nasarawa states had maintained that their own case was different, stressing that their grouse was not only with the Naira swap policy, but also with the cash withdrawal limits the CBN allowed for corporate entities and individuals, respectively.

While consolidating all the cases, the Supreme Court noted that the issue in dispute resolves around Section 20(3) of the CBN Act.

It held that there was no need for more states to apply for permission to join the legal fireworks.

The apex court held that other interested states should abide by its decision in the matter.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/02/naira-dispute-we-wont-be-your-scapegoat-s-court-tells-fg-states/

A new Nigeria is POssible with Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed. Vote LP

Vote wisely on Saturday. Vote your conscience

Of course

El rufai d short imp will be crying now

but they can make the citizens a scapegoat goat abi

Same Supreme Court the executive have long pocketed since 2015.What did the SC did when the FG DSS was raiding your houses in 2016 and cowing the SC?

unohbethel:
El rufai d short imp will be crying now

You are the affected one here not El rufai
El rufai can get the new notes if he wants but you, how many new notes have you got

Noted

Solofresh2:
You are the affected one here not El rufai
El rufai can get the new notes if he wants but you, how many new notes have you got

Elrufai can't get new notes to buy votes,that's why he is crying everywhere

Solofresh2:
You are the affected one here not El rufai
El rufai can get the new notes if he wants but you, how many new notes have you got

awww so u mean el rufai has been crying about the new naira notes because he cares for the citizens ba

Just dey play
If it's not affecting him, he wont have carried the matter for head like gala,to the point of going against Buhari..
so as its affecting me, it's also affecting that short Arrow

HIGHESTPOPORI:
Elrufai can't get new notes to buy votes,that's why he is crying everywhere

make u leave those Urchins make dem dey play


This election go do them voom like mad😂

Tinubu can't use his old notes to buy votes

HIGHESTPOPORI:
Elrufai can't get new notes to buy votes,that's why he is crying everywhere

Because it is having a negative impact on the economy, the indigenes of Kaduna are engaging in trade by barter. As we speak, your parents at home are suffering and sleeping in hunger because they can't get cash.

We yoruba Christians will never vote Tinubu on Muslim-Muslim ticket because we are not fools. When MURIC terrorists told Yoruba Muslims not to vote Yoruba Christians, they all agree. Since no yoruba muslim in Nigeria will ever vote Christian-Christian ticket, why should we christians now vote Mu-Mu ticket?

Christians are not minorities, slaves, or second class citizens in Nigeria. Mu-Mu ticket is a big insult to we Yoruba Christians and we shall punish Tinubu for that before Satan will also punish him. Woe unto any Christian who vote for Islamisation of Nigeria.

"We cannot appoint Pablo Escobar as president and Osama bin Laden as vice president," -- Senator Dino Melaye

Ehen

Jungle don dey do hook-up

I pity Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Tinubu is the major cause of this currency problem, Tinubu stole money Tru bullion van during last election

These Meennn

WE HAVEE TRIED UMBRELLA (PDP), IT LEAKED. WE TRIED BROOM, (APC) THEY SWEPT US AWAY. VOTE FOR HUMAN BEINGS
( Papa, Mama & Pikin ) LP
Vote Peter Obi ,

FuglyGurl:


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/02/naira-dispute-we-wont-be-your-scapegoat-s-court-tells-fg-states/

everything sha work together for the good of obi, through the great people of Nigeria for with obi through sane Nigerians, a new Nigeria is PO'ssible
Come out to vote.

Did I not tell you guys that the Supreme Court Justices must have been severely warned not to allow themselves be used as agents working against Buhari’s resolve to hold a free and fair election devoid of monetary and thuggery interference?

Tinubu BATstards think it’s smoking loud under Oshodi bridge we are talking about.

There are those who own and run the state; that’s where Obasanjo comes in.

Solofresh2:
You are the affected one here not El rufai
El rufai can get the new notes if he wants but you, how many new notes have you got

So u believe El rufai is fighting for u? Lol..

Wake up from ur deep sleep.

Solofresh2:
You are the affected one here not El rufai
El rufai can get the new notes if he wants but you, how many new notes have you got

Nobody is saying he won't get the new naira notes, but at what quantity? The circulation of the new notes is heavily monitored by CBN
...no wonder Hellrufai is crying like a wounded lion.

Vote buying is threatened..lolz

The judiciary are now dangling like pendulum
Neither here or there.


The short whim of a northern state governor will be so pain now

Supreme Court be like: We can't be the grass when two elephants are fighting. Let's observe.

The movie is getting interesting. After Saturday we go know wetin dey play

Yes

the supreme court will be highly revered again if the judges can desist from dishing out abracadabra judgements.

Ok

This is coming from the mouth that is regarded as the last hope of the common masses.
It is well.

Say no to tinubu