Following the deadline for the acceptance of old currency as legal tender by the Central Bank of Nigeria, bus conductors, and passengers on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, exchanged blows over the former’s refusal to accept old notes as transport fare in Kaduna
Trouble started when a ten-passenger bus operating from Sabon Tasha Community, in Chikun Local Government area of Kaduna State, heading towards Kaduna Central market dropped passengers who in turn, handed over their old currencies to the bus conductor, who refused to accept the money.
One of the passengers who sustained a nose injury during the heavy fist fight, said “I entered the bus from Sabon Tasha, after bargaining with the conductor to pay 200 Naira.
On reaching my destination, I gave him the 200 naira but he refused, saying it was old currency. All my pleading fell on deaf ears.”
The Conductor was supported by the driver who rained curses on the passengers but as he returned the curses, the driver threw a blow on his face and the man retaliated.
When interviewed, the bus conductor, Sanusi Umaru said he wondered why the CBN Governor had given the deadline for the use of old currency, yet some disgruntled elements are still using it as a legal tender.
He claimed nobody would accept the old currencies from him, even if he receives it from his passengers, adding that people are aware of the implications of old currency, yet they are still using it as legal tender.
‘New naira policy has significantly reduced kidnapping, corruption’ – Malami
Abubakar Malami, the attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, has said that the introduction of naira redesign policy by Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, significantly reduced the rate of kidnappings in the country.
The AGF, in an interview with Radio Nigeria Kaduna, said there were positive sides of the policy which were not considered.
A seven-member panel of the Supreme Court led by John Okoro had restrained the CBN from banning the use of the old naira notes – N200, N500, and N1,000 – from February 10.
The apex court made the ruling in an ex parte application brought by three states: Kaduna, Kogi, and Zamfara.
Reacting to the ruling on Friday, February 10, 2023, Malami said, “I told you the case is still in court, we will obey the court order but we also have right to explain to court the positive sides of the policy.
“If you see the negative side of it, you have to see the positive sides. If these governors told the court the hardships been experienced as a result of the policy, there are also some problems that the policy is solving.
Nnamdi Kanu Withdraws N20 Billion Case Against Malami, Nigerian Spy Chief
The Federal High Court Abuja has discontinued a suit filed by the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu against the Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency Ahmed Abubakar.
Mister Kanu had filed the suit through his Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, seeking, among other reliefs, an order of the court directing the defendants to pay him the sum of N20 billion being general and exemplary damages.
The suit, which was before Justice Inyang Ekwo, sought to challenge the manner Nnamdi Kanu was arrested in Kenya. According to Ejimakor, the suit was discontinued for strategic reasons that would be inappropriate and unprofessional to disclose publicly.
Part of the reliefs sought in the suit includes a declaration that Kanu’s arrest and imprisonment at a location in Kenya and the subsequent imprisonment in the aircraft that conveyed him from Kenya to Nigeria, amounted to false arrest and false imprisonment;
A declaration that the defendants acted in bad faith and/or abused their public offices in falsely arresting and falsely imprisoning the plaintiff at the said location in Kenya and said aircraft;
An order of the court directing the defendants to, jointly and severally, pay to the plaintiff the sum of N20 billion being general and exemplary damages;
An order of the court directing the defendants to separately write and deliver to the plaintiff, an unreserved personal letter of apology.
Justice Inyang Ekwo had fixed Friday, November 18, for the hearing of the matter. However, Kanu’s counsel announced today that the suit has been discontinued.
Source: Daily Post
