- Joined 9 states govt to suit
The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Wednesday declined to make fresh order lifting the suspension of old Naira from circulation.
When the matter was called , Abdulhakeem Mustapha the counsel for plaintiff after announcing his appearance told the panel that he had filed an affidavit showing that the Federal Government had flaunted the order of the court made on February 8.
Respondent counsel , Kanu Agabi ,SAN, said that “rumours are out there trying to infer that the government disobey the court order”.
Agabi SAN a former Attorney General the Federation also informed the court that he filed a preliminary objection challenging the suit.
The panel of justices of the apex court said it will not make another order following an oral application on Wednesday by the plaintiff counsel Abdulhakeem Mustapha for an order extending the interim order that suspended the February 10 deadline for old N200, N500 and N1000 notes to be legal tender.
The justices said they can not make another order in that regards as counsel complaint is that the order made on February 8 has not been obeyed.
In an orbiter (side comments ) justice Adamu Augie one of the panelists said: “Once you submitted yourselves to Court ,you have a duty to comply ,so you are both reminded that the suit is before the court,”
The Supreme Court joined nine state governments to the law suit filed by Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara State governments against the demonetisation policy of the Federal Government which is being executed through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari .
Seven state governments: Lagos, Cross River, Ekiti, Ondo, Katsina, Ogun and Sokoto through their Attorney Generals were joined as co- plaintiffs, by the Supreme Court while two others, Bayelsa and Edo state governments and their Attorney Generals were joined to the suit as respondents.
Four other state governments: Rivers, Kano ,Jigawa and Niger State governments who filed separate suits on same demonetisation policy of the Federal Government were ordered to put in all their processes before Wednesday next week as their suit will be consolidated.
He explained that with the nine additional parties , the suit is yet to be properly before the court, therefore none of the applications relating to the suit will be taking until Wednesday next week.
The apex court ordered the plaintiff counsel A M. Mustapha to amend the originating processes to reflect Attorney Generals of Lagos, Cross River, Ekiti, Ondo, Katsina Ogun, Sokoto States as co-plaintiffs and Bayelsa and Edo Attorney Generals as co- respondents.
Presiding Justice John Okoro said : “We made the order of February 8.We all leave in this country .You said they have not obey and you are asking for same fresh order?”
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