By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja
One Olalekan Popoola, is before a Federal Capital Territory High Court, seeking imprisonment of
Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, for his failure to immediately obey the order of the Supreme Court over naira redesign policy.
In suit number CV/2757/2023, the plaintiff is seeking an order of the court committing the Mr Emefiele to prisons for having disobeyed the interim order and Judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in Appeal No: SC/CV/162/2023 between Attorney General of Kaduna State and nine orders against the Attorney General of the Federation amd 2 Orders.
My Popoola, also wants the court to declare that the subsequent or any compliance by the Defendant with the interim orders and Judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in Appeal No: SC/CV/162/2023 between Attorney General of Kaduna State & 9 Ors v. Attorney-General of the Federation & 2 Ors does not operate to exculpate him of the earlier disobedience of the interim orders and Judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria at the material times.
He told the court, “the Defendant, while holding office as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria on 26” October, 2022 issued a directive introducing new N200, N500 and N1000 bank notes.
“Based on the policy/directives, the termination date of use of the old N200, N500 and N1000 bank notes was set to be 31* day of January, 2023.
“Some aggrieved State approached the Supreme Court of Nigeria in its Original Jurisdiction, whereupon the Supreme Court made interim order directing that the old N200, NS00 and N1000 will continue to be legal tender in Nigeria.
“Also, on 8th February, 2023 the Supreme Court also made an interim order and also on 3rd March, 2023 the Supreme Court delivered its Judgment in Appeal No: SC/CV/162/2023 between Attorney General of Kaduna State & 9 Ors v. Attorne i . Y General of the Federation & 2 Ors, that the old N200, N500 and N1000 will continue to be a legal tender in Nigeria eria.
“The Defendant, as the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria is the party saddled with the responsibility of comply with the orders of the Supreme Court by ensuring, amongst other things, that the “old version of 200, 500 and 1000 naira notes shall continue to be legal tender alongside with the new or redesigned version until 31 12 2023”.
“The Defendant is directly affected by the Orders of the Supreme Court and has the duty to ensure the “reception of old 200, 500 and 1000 naira notes and the swapping of same with new naira notes shall continue till 31% December, 2023.”
“The Defendant has a duty and legal obligation to obey the Orders of the Supreme Court. The Defendant deliberately disobeyed the Orders of the Supreme Court.
“The Defendant did not comply with the interim orders of the Supreme Court made on 8th February, 2023 or the Judgment of the Supreme Court made on 3rd March, 2023.
The action of the Defendant is illegal and amounted to disobedience to Orders of the Court, for which he is liable to be committed to prison. This Honourable Court has the jurisdiction to enforce the orders/Judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria by committing the Defendant to prison. . There is need to enforce the Orders/Judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria by committing the Defendant to prison.”
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