Despite the Monday night direction to commercial banks to accept and disburse the old naira notes, Kaduna, Kogi, and Zamfara states in Nigeria have finalized plans to launch contempt proceedings against the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and the Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele.
Abdulhakeem Mustapha, SAN, the main attorney for the three states, revealed to The PUNCH on Thursday that the CBN’s press release ordering banks to accept old naira notes was just a ruse to appear in compliance.
The old N200, N500, and N1,000 notes were made legal tender until December 31 by the Supreme Court in its decision from March 3.
The Supreme Court ruled in a decision written by Justice Emmanuel Agim that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (ret. ), had violated the constitution by giving orders for the redesign of the naira.
The seven-member panel also criticized the President for saying in a broadcast on February 16 that only the N200 note should remain legal tender, blatantly flouting the highest court’s injunction.
The court mandated that the outdated currency be accepted until December 31.
Despite pressure from Nigerians, the AGF and the CBN governor refused to abide by the ruling.
