CJN under fire over Supreme Court’s order on Naira notes

The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) of Nigeria on Wednesday asked Olukayode Ariwoola, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), to vacate the order suspending the February 10 deadline for the swap of old naira notes with new ones given by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

 

POLITICSNIGERIA reports that speaking during a news conference in Abuja, the National Coordinator of the coalition, Obed Okwukwe, said that Supreme Court lacks the jurisdiction to hear the case.

 

“We say it categorically that the Supreme Court does not have the jurisdiction to entertain that matter that has been presented before it by some state Attorney General. We the CSOs are rejecting it.

 

“It is a plot to open bank vaults to enable vote buyers and holders of illicit wealth to have cash to buy votes.

 

“We urge the CJN to hurriedly vacate the Ex-parte order in the overall interest of the Nigerian election,” Okwukwe said.

 

Furthermore, Okwukwe argued that the CBN policy has the backing of the Federal Government.

 

The apex court had on Wednesday morning in a lawsuit brought before it by the governments of Zamfara, Kogi and Kaduna States issued an interim injunction against the CBN and Federal Government,  allowing the old N200, N500 and N1000 to remain legal tender beyond February 10 deadline until the case is fully disposed.