The governments of Kaduna, Zamfara, Kogi, and other states intend to file a contempt charge against the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, for refusing to implement the Supreme Court’s decision on the contentious naira redesign policy.
Remember that the Supreme Court had extended the validity of the old naira notes till December 31st, but President Muhammadu Buhari’s silence on the apex court’s decision had fueled the rejection of the remaining old N1,000 and N500 notes as legal money.
Several banks began paying customers using the old notes on Monday, partially in accordance with the Supreme Court decision, but by Wednesday, the banks had ceased disbursing the old notes, claiming that the CBN had not issued any direction to that effect.
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According to reports, the Federal Government was served with the enrolled order and Certified True Copy of last week’s Supreme Court decision on Friday, which also ruled that the old N1,000, N500, and N200 notes be circulated alongside the new notes until December 31, 2023.
The failure of the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to direct Emefiele to begin implementing the apex court verdict and withdrawing the old notes already withdrawn from circulation was due to the non-service of the enrolled order and the CTC of the judgment.
The enrolled order and the CTC of the judgment, according to Newsmen, were served on the AGF on Friday afternoon.
Speaking to Newsmen, Abdulhakeem Mustapha (SAN), Counsel for Kaduna, Kogi, and Zamfara states, which brought the Federal Government before the Supreme Court on the case, said Malami was served with the enrolled order and the CTC of the judgment on Friday afternoon.
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He noted that he anticipated the verdict to be followed immediately because the non-service of the documents had provided the government and the CBN with an escape route.
Mustapha said, “The Attorney-General of the Federation has been served now and we will take it up from there; if there is no compliance now, we will commence committal proceedings against the attorney-general and the CBN governor. When the Supreme Court talks, the constitution makes it compulsory for all government representatives and everybody to comply with its order. It’s not discretional, you have to obey, it is the last and the final and that is why we have separation of power.
“The presence of separation of power is for checks and balances; when the Supreme Court talks, it must be complied with by all persons.”
The lawyer had earlier stated, “We are waiting for the enrolled order of the court. We are yet to procure it. As soon as we have it, we will take the next step. When the Supreme Court talks, all organs of government comply and if they don’t comply, the rules are clear. We are going to activate the necessary legal steps within the ambit of the law. But we need to get the enrolled order and serve the defendants. That’s where we are.
UPDATE: Banks Start Disbursing Old 500, 1000 Naira Notes To Nigerians
“Anytime from now, we will be able to get the enrolled order and the Certified True Copy of the judgement, then we will take it up from there. But I can assure you, our clients are monitoring the situation and we will take appropriate steps at the right time.”
Asked what the next step would be if there was still no compliance after serving the AGF the enrolled order and the CTC, Mustapha said, “Courts deal with live issues and not speculations. When we get to the bridge, we will cross it.”
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