The pronouncement by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (ret. ), that only the old N200 banknote remains legal money but the old N500 and N1,000 notes are not has been referred to as a contempt of court by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa.
The lawyer-turned-activist contends that the president is powerless to overturn a ruling by Nigeria’s Supreme Court.
10 state governors, including those of Kaduna, Kogi, Zamfara, Katsina, Lagos, Cross River, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo, and Sokoto, are suing the federal government in the Supreme Court over the Central Bank of Nigeria’s decision to redesign the naira. The new N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes were introduced, and the old notes were ordered to stop being legal tender on February 10, 2023.
Kogi Accuses EFCC Of Contempt And Threatens Legal Action
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court adjourned the suit to February 22, 2023.
Buhari in a nationwide address on Thursday morning announced that the old N200 note remains legal tender till April 10 but the old N500 and N1,000 notes are not.
Reacting, Adegoruwa, in a statement on Thursday morning, faulted the president, saying he flouted the principle of the separation of powers.
He said, “There is separation of powers in a democracy.
“Under section 235 of the 1999 Constitution, the Supreme Court is the final authority in legal pronouncements in Nigeria.
“Under section 287(1) of the Constitution, the President is statutorily obliged to obey, enforce and give effect to the decision of the Supreme Court.
“Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution:
“(1) The decisions of the Supreme court shall be enforced in any part of the Federation by all authorities and persons, and by courts with subordinate jurisdiction to that of the supreme Court.”
Adegoruwa added that the president’s broadcast is “sad for our democracy.”
He added, “Since he already admitted that the matter is subjudice, the President should not have proceeded to vary the order of the Supreme Court.
2023: See What Senior Lawyer, Adegboruwa Said About Peter Obi That Is Trending
“The president and indeed the executive should not give the impression that citizens can brazenly disregard lawful orders of any court, as that will only encourage anarchy and lawlessness.
“It amounts to executive rascality and brazen disregard and contempt of the Supreme Court, for the President to separate the denomination of the old notes for legality. It is not open to the President to choose which portion of the order of the Supreme Court that will be obeyed.
“The President should reverse his directive and add the N500 and N1000 old notes, failing which the Supreme Court should overrule the directive of the President in on February 22 when the case comes up.”
Follow us on Facebook
Post Disclaimer
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author and forum participants on this website do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Anaedo Online or official policies of the Anaedo Online.