Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to instruct the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to immediately implement the Supreme Court decision extending the validity of the old N200, N500, and N1,000 notes.
SERAP also asked the president to publicly disclose the measures his administration is taking to obey the verdict to end the cash withdrawal limits imposed by banks because such restrictions violate citizens’ right to use their property freely.
The civil society organisation made the demands in an open letter addressed to President Buhari, dated March 4, 2023, and signed by its deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare.
It specifically urged the President to disclose the measures his government is taking to direct the CBN to immediately re-circulate the old N200, N500, and N1,000 notes, as ordered by the Supreme Court.
SERAP insisted that there is an overriding public interest in disclosing the details of the measures the federal government and the CBN are taking to effectively and satisfactorily obey the Supreme Court decision.
The organisation also maintained that if the government and the CBN disclosed measures they are taking to implement the Supreme Court judgment, it would also enable Nigerians to monitor and scrutinise the level of compliance with the decision.
It stressed that if the government widely published the implementation measures, it would also improve the accountability of state officials and public confidence in the rule of law and Nigeria’s democracy.
The letter reads in part, “We would be grateful if the requested information and recommended measures are implemented within seven days of receiving and publishing this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our requests.
“The implementation by your government of the CBN policy on redesigning the country’s currency has violated citizens’ rights.
“SERAP is concerned about the persistent disobedience of court orders by your government and the apparent lack of respect for constitutional and international rule of law obligations.
“Nigerians are entitled to the details of the level of compliance by your government and the CBN with the Supreme Court decision as a matter of transparency, justice and the rule of law.
“The Nigerian Constitution, Freedom of Information Act, and human rights treaties to which the country is a state party rest on the principle that citizens should have access to information regarding their government’s activities.
“Your government has the legal duty to act as ordered by the Supreme Court consistent with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, the CBN Act, and the country’s international obligations.
“Our requests are brought in the public interest, and in keeping with the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended]; the Freedom of Information Act; the CBN Act, and the country’s international obligations including under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights,” SERAP stated.
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