Kaduna, Kogi, and Zamfara states have initiated a contempt proceeding against the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Abubakar Malami, and the Governor of Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele over their alleged refusal to comply with the Supreme Court order extending the deadline for the use of old N200, N500, and N1000 notes.
In the fresh documents filed before the Supreme Court, the three states―the original plaintiffs in the suit against the naira swap policy of the Federal Government―cautioned the AGF and Emefiele about the consequences of their continued failure to comply with the apex court’s order of February 3.
The two sets of Form 48, one directed at the AGF and the other at Emefiele were issued by the Chief Registrar of the apex court following an application by the team of lawyers representing the three states.
It was learnt that the documents form part of the processes now awaiting the Supreme Court’s consideration when proceedings resume on Wednesday, February 22, 2023.
Copies of the forms sighted showed that the CBN governor and the AGF were served on February 17 while it was received at the Supreme Court two days earlier, on February 15.
The forms dated February 15 read: “Take notice that unless you obey the direction contained in the attached Order of the Supreme Court of Nigeria delivered on 3rd day of February 2023, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”
The issuance of Form 48 on an alleged contemnor (a party believed to have flouted an order of the court) is the first stage in the commencement of contempt proceedings.
Form 48 is a notice of the consequence of disobedience of a court order, which could be followed with the issuance of Form 49, should the disobedience persists.
When parties were in court on February 15, the lawyer to Kaduna, Kogi, and Zamfara states, Abdulhakeem Mustapha, SAN, complained that the Federal Government and its agencies have failed to comply with the order and have allegedly directed the rejection of the old notes.
Mustapha said his clients have since filed a notice of non-compliance with the court order.
He demanded that the court take action against the respondent (AGF) to protect the dignity of the court.
Mustapha added: “That order has been flouted by the government. We are talking of executive lawlessness here. We have filed an affidavit to that effect. We want the court to renew the order for parties to be properly guided.”
It’s Final: ‘Old N200, N500, N1000 Naira Notes Have Ceased To Be Legal Tender’ – CBN Insists
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has declared that the old N200, N500, and N1000 have ceased being legal tender since February 10, 2023.
CBN had originally fixed January 31 as deadline for old notes to be in circulation but extended it in response to pressure from Nigerians.
However, before the February 10 deadline, Kogi, Kaduna and Zamfara States approached the Supreme Court, seeking that the CBN be restrained from going ahead with the deadline.
The Court answered their prayer and adjourned the case till February 15.
However, there has been silence on the part of the apex bank since the court gave its ruling.
The silence threw Nigerians into confusion on the state of the old notes, which were widely rejected but accepted in some places.
Commenting on the development in a chat with journalists, CBN Branch Controller in Bauchi, Haladu Idris Andaza, said the old notes were no longer legal tender.
“In the last 24 hours, we have been inundated by questions from various angles of the general public about our operational guidelines on the old currency notes, be that as it may, there are so many questions here and there that people have been asking about.”
“So for the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state categorically that CBN is ready and is opened to receive all of those old notes based on certain conditions and criteria. Customers are free to come to the Bank and deposit which they cannot do at the Commercial Banks anymore because the currency has seized to be a legal tender since the 10th of this month.
“Consequently, the management of the CBN decided that those customers will have a sigh of relief by coming to the offices of the CBN in all the 36 states in the Federation including FCT to deposit their money.
“The customer has to go to the CBN portal and fill a form in the portal, there will be a form there concerning this currency redesign and exchange. After filling the form, you generate a code, you either print it or come with it in your mobile phone, give us the code and the information contained therein. In the form, you are expected to provide all the basic information about yourself, your account details, and the amount you want to deposit.”
“By the time you have done it correctly, you come to the CBN where the code will be accepted from you as well as the money, process and confirm the genuineness or otherwise of the money to avoid receiving fake notes because there are some fake notes in circulation now.”
Source: Daily Post
