By Ogochukwu Isioma
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has told the President Muhammadu Buhari led federal government to immediately comply with the order of the Supreme Court, in respect of the naira redesign policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
metrowatchxtra.com reports that the apex court had in its judgement delivered on 3 March, 2023, ruled that the old N200, N500 and N1,000 Naira Notes remain legal tender until December 31, 2023, and should be immediately reissued by the CBN alongside the new notes.
Days later, however, both the CBN and the federal government are yet to direct compliance to the order by Supreme Court, leading to confusion amongst deposit banks and citizens who are still rejecting the old notes for trade and deposits.
In a statement by its President, Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, on Monday, the NBA said the order of the apex court must be immediately complied with by the executive, having spoken for the people, noting that the nation cannot afford any autocratic rule.
The statement reads in part: “Nigerians may not be too enchanted with our Judiciary, and this may have arisen from unsubstantiated and spurious allegations of judicial misconduct, the fact however remains that we still must look to the Judiciary as the only and final resort, to protect our rights as a people and secure probity in public life.
“The Supreme Court has spoken for the people of this nation and has appropriately issued orders to the Executive and the orders of the court must be complied with.
“We cannot under any guise or pretence accept or tolerate any appearance of autocracy or dictatorship.
“Our system of democratic governance has come to stay, it must not only be respected by all and sundry but must also be jealously guarded and protected.
“This is the greatest test or challenge to our constitutional democracy and the Executive cannot afford to disregard the orders of the Supreme Court made for the benefit of the people that elected it to power.
“I therefore on behalf of all Nigerians, call on the President to immediately direct compliance with the terms of the orders made by the Supreme Court in its judgement delivered on 3 March 2023.”
