Ogun joins case as Abiodun reads riot act to banks

•Gbajabiamila says relief underway

•Armed policemen take over Ondo CBN office to prevent attack by angry bank customers

•Wike faults policy

•Ganduje threatens to sanction erring banks, business owners

Alex Enumah, Udora Orizu in Abuja, Fidelis David in Akure, James Sowole in Abeokuta, Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt and Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano

All eyes would be focused on the apex court as hearing in the suit challenging the powers of the federal government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stop the use of the old N200, N500 and N1,000 begins today at the Supreme Court in Abuja.

This was just as Ogun State Government has filed an application at the Supreme Court seeking to join Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara States in the suit.

Ogun joining the suit confirmed THISDAY’s recent report that as part of efforts to deliberately stall the Supreme Court ruling, governors of some of the All Progressives Congress (APC) states have chosen to continue to file for joinder in the matter.

The suit which was originally filed by the three northern states has since been joined by Ondo, Kano, Ekiti and now Ogun states. Rivers had also indicating its preparedness to do same.

Sources at the Federal Ministry of Justice, had disclosed to THISDAY that the design of the state governors, who were joining the Supreme Court suit was to delay the judgement and have the old currency run till after the election.

One of the sources, who pleaded to remain anonymous had said, “It is the design of the governors, who are adding many joinder suits, to delay the judgement and try to keep the state of affairs whereby the old currency would continue to be in use, while they lobby Supreme Court justices so that they cannot reach a judgement, and to push the Supreme Court decision on this matter until after the presidential election.

“They want to use the cash for the presidential election. So, they are adding more joinder suits to delay the outcome of the judgement so that the two currencies can work together. So, what we see is that the vote-buyers are fighting back.”

The Supreme Court being the final court in the country joined in the matter which had generated intense controversy, when it last week halted the federal government from proceeding to stop the use of the old banknotes from February 10, 2023.

Justice John Okoro, who gave the restraining order against the federal government, held that the order would subsist until today, when it would hear the case of the aggrieved states.

The action of the apex court was sequel to an exparte application brought before it on February 3, by the Attorneys-General of Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara States.

Since its order on February 8, the apex court has come under heavy knocks by some critics of the administration for venturing into what they believed was the exclusive of the executive, although some others including senior lawyers saw nothing wrong in the action of the apex court since the order made was a temporary one.

When the matter comes up today, it would be expected that the issue of jurisdiction which is very crucial in any case must first be resolved.

More worrisome is the issue of enforceability of the said order, which has further thrown the nation into confusion as some commercial banks and businesses despite the order of the apex court and the pledge by the federal government to obey the order have continued to reject the old naira notes.

Also, lawyers and litigants are being prevented from filing court processes at the Lagos High Court, as officials insisted they would only accept new naira notes.

In the suit marked: SC/CV/162/2023 and filed on February 3, plaintiffs are seeking among other things, a declaration that the demonetisation policy of the federation being currently carried out by the CBN under the directive of the president was not in compliance with the extant provisions of the constitution and CBN Act, 2007 and actual laws on the subject.

Besides, plaintiffs wanted a declaration that the three-month notice given by the federal government through the CBN under the directive of the president, the expiration of which was expected to render the old banknotes inadmissible as legal tender, was in gross violation of the provisions of Section 20(3) of the CBN Act 2007, which specifies that reasonable notice must be given before such a policy.

Although, Mr. Mahmood Magaji, SAN, the lawyer representing the AGF who was the sole respondent in the suit, was present during the hearing and subsequent grant of the ex parte application he however filed the government’s objection to the suit.

The federal government in the Notice of Preliminary Objection dated February 8, claimed that the Supreme Court lacked the necessary jurisdiction to entertain the suit in the first place.

According to their argument, the plaintiffs ought to have commenced the suit before a Federal High Court and not at the Supreme Court.

Besides, the respondent argued that “the plaintiffs have equally not shown reasonable cause of action” against it.

Besides the objection, the AGF, Abubakar Malami also stated that the federal government would take steps to vacate the order when the court resumes, on the grounds that the law allows the government to challenge any order that it is not pleased with and that the government will do so in this instant case by the instrumentality of the law.

Last weekend, governors of the 36 states of the federation rose from a meeting in Abuja with a resolution to direct their Attorneys General to review the suit with a view to consolidating the legal reliefs pursued by the states.

Ogun Joins Suit as Abiodun Reads Riot Act to Banks

Ogun State Government has filed an application at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, seeking to join Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara States, in the suit.

The 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 had 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.

“The implementation of the policy has totally paralyzed and brought to standstill the economic activities of Ogun State and also severely impaired the government’s ability to deliver on its economic agenda to the people,” it stated.

Also, Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, yesterday read riot act to commercial banks, operating in the state, warning that the state government would shut down any bank operating in the state that refused to accept the old naira notes.

The warning was sequel to complaints received from the people by the state government that commercial banks and some filling stations were rejecting the old naira notes as legal tender.

The governor spoke yesterday, while addressing market men women at Itoku Kampala market in Abeokuta, as part of his reelection campaign to Abeokuta North Local Government Areas.

Abiodun, who frowned at the action of the banks, noted that since the new naira notes was not available, commercial banks must accept the old notes to ease the suffering of the people.

Wike Faults Policy

Governor Nyesom Wike said implementation of the naira swap policy by the CBN was political, adding that it has worsened the living condition of the poor across the country.

The Rivers State governor said Nigerians were suffering as a result of the tactless implementation of the naira swap policy, and urged government to urgently ameliorate the condition of the people.

Wike made the remark yesterday, during the official presentation of letter of nomination on the “award of Independent Man of the Year 2022,” on him by the management of Independent Newspapers, at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

The governor stressed that the essence of government and its agency such as CBN, was not to inflict hardship of the masses, but to cushion it.

“We are in a difficult situation now. It doesn’t matter what anybody may say. The truth must be told at all times. Nigerians are suffering now and as a people we owe that responsibility to cushion the level of hardship that Nigerians are facing, we are not to worsen the situation,” he added.

Wike said people were not necessarily opposed to the redesigning of the N1000, N500 and N200 notes, but were concerned about the implementation of the policy and the hardship it has inflicted on the masses.

Gbajabiamila Says Relief Underway

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has expressed delight with the recent ruling of the Supreme Court on the matter.

Gbajabiamila, while speaking in Lagos, yesterday, during the launch of the second edition of GbajaRide community transportation initiative, said the House of Representatives under his leadership has been on the side of the people, working tirelessly to rescue them from economic saboteurs seeking to derail the successes of President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC administration.

He said he was glad that the judiciary also confirmed House’s position on the implementation of the naira redesign policy of the central bank, and that relief was underway.

Ganduje Threatens to Sanction Erring Banks, Business Owners

Kano state government has warned that it would not hesitate to revoke operational licences of major business owners or take action against anyone who refuses to accept the old naira notes as a means of transaction.

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, who handed down the warning in a statement issued by the commissioner for information and internal affairs, Malam Muhammad Garba and made available to THISDAY, yesterday, said the old naira notes were still legal tender.

The governor noted that it came to the notice of the government that some business owners such as supermarkets, malls, banks, restaurants, hotels, traders in markets, filling stations, motor parks, among others, were in the habit of rejecting the old naira notes in business transaction.

Ganduje further observed that the non-acceptance by some selfish individuals was further worsening the already tensed situation exacerbated by the non-availability of the new naira notes.

Armed Policemen Take over Ondo CBN Office to Prevent Attack

Armed policemen yesterday took over the premises of the CBN located in the Alagbaka area of Akure, the Ondo state capital to prevent attack by angry bank customers. The customers were angry over the rejection of the old naira notes by commercial banks and other business centres in the state.

On Monday, commercial motorcyclists and drivers, traders, civil servants, businessmen, and women besieged their various banks in exchange for the old notes for the new ones but were turned back by the officials.

Some of the customers who spoke with journalists revealed that the banks were no longer collecting the old notes despite the supreme court order.

Mr Emmanuel Adeniyi said, “the Automated Teller Machines (ATM), of the commercial banks, are still dispensing the old notes and they are rejecting the notes from us, what kind of impunity is that?”

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2023/02/15/all-eyes-on-supreme-court-as-suit-against-banning-old-naira-notes-resumes-today/

We all know that the supreme court has been bastardized but this is a crucial time for them to redeem their battered reputation by standing with the suffering masses. Let them decide what is the best for Nigerians.

All these governors sha dey funny me. E be like say dem don forget say emefele na governor too. Why are they clamouring as if they are being affected than the masses.. most of them rely on the currency to bribe their way to second terms cos they didn't do well in the first.

Ogun joins case as Abiodun reads riot act to banks
•Gbajabiamila says relief underway
•Armed policemen take over Ondo CBN office to prevent attack by angry bank customers
•Wike faults policy
•Ganduje threatens to sanction erring banks, business owners

When it comes to something that would benefit them, they will have one voice...

Someone said something....


He said, what if we're meant to believe that this move is to stop vote buying and at the election day, we see only APC coming with bags of monies to all pulling units to trade votes....When everyone must have been tired and hungry and broke....Then only APC came with the new naira notes to share for the people?


I hope this isn't what will happen.... Because, this might just be a game plan. And everyone is behind their plans.


The whole thing might just be to make it seems like the FG is fighting Tinubu when in the real sense, it's making it simple for Tinubu to scale through easily....

Let's ponder on this...

What these governors need to do now is to file a suit compelling CBN to make available new notes instead of insisting of we spending old notes.
Old notes is as scarce as new notes presently, and banks might not release old notes back to the public.

Ok

Tor!

What I expect the Supreme Court to do…

I expect them not to extend the ex parte order on simultaneous usage of the old notes with the new notes.

Second, I expect them to hear the arguments of counsels in the case today and rule on the matter today or at most before 20th of this month.

The Council of State has met and backed the policy, so the Supreme Court justices know better than to go against the decision of the stakeholders of Nigeria. I’m sure they’ve been told what to do.

Besides Supreme Court had no business with monetary policy in the first place.

These governors are doing more harm to the economy with their stance

CBN already have our old cash with them, just tell them to bring out the new cash, Emefiele is not bending now

And why are they even threatening banks when it's the CBN that gives the directive

Yeye governors and court

Lol...one thing I am so sure of is that,..Thunder will fire every Nigerian politician dead or alive...and Tinubu and his supporters will be first on the list...

Am not bothered. CBN has it right to decide when and what is to be issued as legal tender and when to remove it from the economy.

Supreme court has no rights of telling CBN what to do in terms of currency.

Those supporting this are fools. We have been gradually goin through the process and becoming use to it.

Another thing people fail to understand about this regime is the man called Buhari, his decisions before coming in public are irreversible. Look at border closure on rice, Bvas and some other crucial things. This policy has come to stay. If you like die, the short term suffering can not be more than the long term enjoyment this will bring in the future.


Remember what CBN brought up yesterday

Expecting the Supreme Court to give a landmark ruling...

Only piiggiiddioootts are with Emefiele

Piiggiiddiioootts amaka

Supreme Court should not give ambiguous judgement like Council of State

Supreme court have lost their respect and as such will not be respected my Emefiele.
They can receive the money and swap it themselves!

PeterObi4LP:
On today's ruling, Supreme Court should strike out the suit filed by those vote buyers. Nigerians will cope for just 1 month when everything will normalize. SC should not extend anything further.

We are coping already.

Hmmm

No cash policy should stand regardless of today's SP outcome.


I wonder why APC supporters have turned this into politics... Clearly shows money is what they are loyal to

If Y'all believed this cashless nonsense will affect only apc then u know nothing,its going to affect pdp and obi/Lp that doesn't give shishi,they all need the cash.
Tinubu is the only candidate fighting against this policy and that alone may change some undecided minds/voters

Africans and power

One thing I noticed from haters or urchins is that they now tag APC's failures as Obedients.

Whoever they hate or whatever they don't like, the tag that thing as IPOB.

They no longer use IPOB again. It's now Zombident.

They say Zombidents likes the naira policy and all that.

I wonder why some Yorubas are just evil and jealous. Could they be the Muslim ones or christian ones?

K

This is what you get when there is no clear ideological differences between the political parties in a democracy.


Anybody can move from one party to another at a whim.

In a saner clime, this issue will be moving whichever party with socialist ideologies on a clear path to victory in the forthcoming elections but seeing that there is no opposition, no sane ruling party will bring this kind of anyi-masees policy in an election year.

Now figures in the ruling party are playing opposition.... Goes to say much about the chain of command or non existence of one in the executive for the past 8 years.


Democracy in Nigeria is worth giving its own name... Calling whatever we are practicing here democracy is an insult to other democracies in the world.

Let me state this categorically.
All those supporting this evil policy by the CBN are devils. U are killing the innocent populace just because of political gains.
U go to the streets and see people suffering, yet some bassstards online will drumming support for the olodo CBN governor largely because one deceptive Obi and unruly Atiku are saying YES to the anti-masses policy. U will all suffer for backing thia kinda devilish policy.

Nonsense

JASONjnr:
Someone said something....


He said, what if we're meant to believe that this move is to stop vote buying and at the election day, we see only APC coming with bags of monies to all pulling units to trade votes....When everyone must have been tired and hungry and broke....Then only APC came with the new naira notes to share for the people?


I hope this isn't what will happen.... Because, this might just be a game plan. And everyone is behind their plans.


The whole thing might just be to make it seems like the FG is fighting Tinubu when in the real sense, it's making it simple for Tinubu to scale through easily....

Let's ponder on this...

it is madness that the person is not mentioning emefiele and buhari and even the cabals,it is tinubu that he is mentioning...at any point in time,everyone wants to he ahead of the game,even u.

JASONjnr:
Someone said something....


He said, what if we're meant to believe that this move is to stop vote buying and at the election day, we see only APC coming with bags of monies to all pulling units to trade votes....When everyone must have been tired and hungry and broke....Then only APC came with the new naira notes to share for the people?


I hope this isn't what will happen.... Because, this might just be a game plan. And everyone is behind their plans.


The whole thing might just be to make it seems like the FG is fighting Tinubu when in the real sense, it's making it simple for Tinubu to scale through easily....

Let's ponder on this...

It is people with longer throats that would succumb to their plans

Dis Man

Even if all the state governors like, let them converge and drag FGN and CBN to supreme court. There is no going back on the policy said Buhari in a video with prime times. No candidate will be allowed to use resources to intimidate any voter.
See as state governors are all standing up like they are really after the welfarism of the common citizens. Bunch of idiots and hypocrites. The policy is here to stay. I trust Buhari, he won't bow down to any judiciary ruling if it doesn't go his way, this isn't his first time doing this. If there is anyone who flaunts courts order in this administration, It's Bubu. So If Buhari is not bowing, Emefiele isn't either. He who blows the pipet dictates the tune.
With Emefiele we stand
Prepare to use your PVC
Vote and don't fight
Jealously guide your vote
Vote your conscience
Vote Peter Obi

:* I went through the list of the governors and I found out that they are mostly Tinubu's supporters.

I'm I the only one noticing this? It's as if money preshared will lose value if policy stands. Eyah!!!

These sets of Obi- diots are the worst of sub humans that we have in Nigeria today. Their leader Giringory, Petet Obi the leader of the IPIG Zombidients is also clueless and very shallow.
These fools think that this policy will only affect Tinubu while their fathers in their villages can't even access their own money in the bank. They are supporting this asinine policy just because someone idiot told them it will affect Tinubu.
The fact of the matter is that, it's actually working in Tinubu's favor right now. They have given Tinubu an issue on which he now looks like he cares about the people and like he a genius who was able to foresee outcomes unlike dumb asses Pandora and Atiku.
Sometimes in life when you think you're hurting someone else but you end up hurting yourself.
This is what this has become.