The governments of Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara States have initiated contempt proceedings against the attorney-general of the federation (AGF)and minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, for failing to comply with the Supreme Court order on deadline for swap of old naira notes with new ones.
The highest court in the land had on February 8, 2023 stopped the CBN from giving effect to the February 10 deadline for the use of old notes after an ex parte application was brought by the three states.
In the suit before the apex court, the states argued that the implementation of the policy has caused untold hardship on residents.
The AGF, who is the sole respondent, had also filed a preliminary objection to the suit, arguing that the Supreme Court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
In the objection, the AGF said the plaintiffs failed to join the CBN in the suit, which has just the AGF as the sole plaintiff.
Ondo, Ekiti, Katsina, Ogun, Cross River, Lagos, and Sokoto States have also joined the suit as co-plaintiffs, while Edo and Bayelsa States have joined the AGF as defendants.
In the fresh documents filed before the apex court, the three states, Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara, cautioned the AGF and Emefiele about the consequences of their continued failure to comply with the apex court’s order made on February 8.
The two sets of Form 48 filed by the team of lawyers representing the three states formed part of the applications now awaiting the supreme court’s consideration when proceedings resume on Wednesday.
Last week, the apex court said its February 8 order stopping the federal government and its agencies from enforcing the February 10 deadline for the use of old 200, 500 and 1000 naira notes still stands.
The court reiterated its order following complaints by lawyer to Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara Etates, Abdulhakeem Mustapha (SAN), that the federal government and its agencies have failed to comply with the order and have allegedly directed the rejection of the old notes.
Following the failure of the federal government to obey the order, the states yesterday filed a contempt charge against the AGF.
Last week during the proceedings, the court joined nine more states as parties in the suit challenging the legality of the naira swap policy of the federal government.
In its ruling, a seven-member panel led by Justice John Okoro the apex court joined the attorneys-general of Katsina, Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Ekiti, Cross River and Sokoto States as co-plaintiffs, while the attorneys-general of Edo and Bayelsa states were joined as co-respondents.
The case is expected to continue before the apex court today.
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