FG Asks Supreme Court to Dismiss Suit on Old Naira Notes Deadline
By Odunayo Odeja
The federal government has called on the Supreme Court to dismiss a suit challenging the new naira policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The suit, filed by three state governments (Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara) is challenging the February 10 deadline set by the CBN to end the legal tender status of the old versions of some newly designed currency notes.
However, the federal government argues that the Supreme Court lacks jurisdiction to hear the suit.
The respondent maintains that the case is not a dispute between the federation and the state governments, but merely an issue about CBN’s policy.
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It says the suit is, therefore, not qualified to be taken directly to the Supreme Court for adjudication.
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, sued as the sole defendant as the representative of the federal government, filed his opposition to the suit as a preliminary objection against it at the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
Mr Malami’s filings came hours after the Supreme Court granted a request by the three state governments for an order temporarily halting the CBN’s plan to end the use of the old currency notes on 10 February.
