Court orders Plaintiff to put CBN on Notice, in Suit on Exchange of Re-designed Naira Notes
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Following the Suit filed against the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN) , it’s Governor Mr Godwin Emefiele and the Attorney General of the Federation ( AGF) ( as 1st, second and third Defendants ) by Incorporated Trustees Of African Initiative Against Abuse of Public Trust on behalf of over 50 million Nigerians in different rural areas without bank account), the Federal High Court sitting at Awka, has directed the Plaintiff to put the Defendants on Notice to compel them to come to the court and show cause why the Plaintiff’s prayers , should not be granted them.
The three Defendants have Chief Musa Tolani , an Aba Abia state based Lawyer as their joint Counsel while Mr N.D.Agu filed the Suit marked FHC/AWK/CS/195/2022 for the Plaintiff. The Court Order which was made on 30th November, 2022 had a certified Copy dated 9th December , 2022.
Speaking on the Suit, Chief Tolani said yesterday that the Plaintiff’s prayers were for the court to order an interim injunction restraining the Defendants, particularly, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Godwin Emefiele, either by themselves or their privies or agents from taking any step to enforce the implementation of the policy on the redesign of Naira and non physical exchange of the old notes with the new notes without a clear policy on how to accommodate over 50 million Nigerians without bank accounts.
The Plaintiff’s Prayers/ Relief(s) included granting accelerated hearing and determination of the Substantive Originating Summons, granting the Claimant Leave to serve Godwin Emefiele and Attorney General of Federation with the Court processes by substituted means by posting or transmission through DHL Courier Services, directing and barring the CBN and Emefiele by themselves or agents from taking any steps to dissipate, discountenance or in any other manner inhibit over 50 million Nigerians without bank accounts from using alternative means to exchange old notes with the redesigned notes.
They also prayed the Court for an ” Order of departure from the rules by abridging the time within which the Defendants may file their respective Counter Affidavit to substantive Originating Summons to a period of five days from the date of service of the processes”.
After hearing the Plaintiff’s Counsel ( Agu, Esq. ) who said that the CBN and Emefiele have served them with their response to the Originating Process before being served, and Defendants Counsel
(Chief Tolani) having confirmed that the Defendants have accepted service of the Originating Process and also filed and served their response thereto, the presiding justice , Hon. Justice H. A. Nganjiwa granted Reliefs A and B to the Plaintiffs to enable the 3rd Defendant ( AGF) be served with the Originating Processes and Leave to serve him by substituted means by posting.
He thereafter adjourned to 19th January, 2023 for hearing of the Motion on Notice for the Interlocutory Injunction. #
