A non-governmental organization called the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has taken legal action against Nigeria's President, Muhammadu Buhari, for banning the use of old N500 and N1,000 banknotes, despite an interim injunction by the Supreme Court that these old notes should still be legal tender.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, as well as the Central Bank of Nigeria, have also been named as defendants in the lawsuit. The Supreme Court had earlier ruled that the old banknotes remain legal tender until a motion on notice is determined on February 22.
However, Buhari, in a recent national broadcast, directed the CBN to recirculate only the old N200 banknotes, banning the use of old N500 and N1,000 notes in the country.
SERAP is now seeking the court's determination on whether Buhari's directive is inconsistent with the constitutional duty to obey decisions of the Supreme Court and his oath of office.
SERAP is asking the court to declare Buhari's directive as a violation of the citizens' fundamental rights to property and to conduct transactions with the old banknotes.
They are also seeking an order of the court to set aside the directive, to direct the CBN to continue to accept the old banknotes as legal tender, and to extend the deadline for the swap of the old notes.
The ban on the old N500 and N1,000 notes has generated controversy, with many Nigerians expressing their displeasure with the government's decision.
The ban has been seen as an attempt to force citizens to deposit their money in banks and to promote the use of electronic payment systems.
SERAP has argued that the ban is discriminatory, as it affects the poor who may not have access to banks and electronic payment systems.
They have also stated that the ban will cause economic hardship, as many people who depend on the old banknotes for their livelihood will be unable to conduct their business transactions.
It remains to be seen how the court will rule on the matter, but the case highlights the importance of upholding the rule of law and protecting the rights of citizens in a democratic society.
Illegal detention: Ex-Aide sues Aisha Buhari for N100m
Zainab Kassim, a former Special Assistant to the President in the Office of the First Lady, has filed a lawsuit against Aisha Buhari, the Inspector General of Police, and the Department of State Services.
Kassim alleges that she was unlawfully abducted and detained by DSS officers, acting on the orders of Aisha Buhari. She claims that the First Lady and her associates physically assaulted and abused her, with the support of the DSS and police, for deleting her social media posts.
Kassim is asking the court to declare her arrest and detention as unconstitutional and unlawful, and to restrain the police and DSS from further arresting, detaining, and torturing her.
She is also seeking damages in the sum of N100 million from the respondents. The case has not yet been assigned to a judge.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the First Lady, Mr Aliyu Abdullahi, for comment have been unsuccessful at this time.
The allegations made by Zainab Kassim are serious and if proven true, would represent a violation of her fundamental human rights.
The case has yet to be heard, and it will be up to the court to determine the facts of the matter and to decide on the appropriate legal remedies.
It is important that everyone's fundamental human rights are respected and protected, regardless of their status or position in society.
No one should be subjected to unlawful detention, physical abuse, or any other form of human rights violation.
It remains to be seen how this case will unfold and what the outcome will be.
It is a reminder of the importance of the rule of law and the need to ensure that all individuals are treated fairly and justly under the law.
Old Naira Deadline: Reactions As President Buhari And CBN Governor, Emefiele Meet Again
President Buhari met with CBN Governor Emefiele to discuss the old Naira notes. The outcome of the meeting is unknown, but Nigerians hope for positive change as the old notes continue to cause suffering.
Some are skeptical, questioning whether the meeting will bring any real change for the masses. The issue of old Naira notes still persists, and citizens are calling for a solution to allow them to coexist with the new notes until they naturally phase out.
The use of old Naira notes has been a topic of concern for some time, with many Nigerians experiencing difficulties in using or exchanging them.
The CBN has previously set deadlines for the exchange of the old notes, but these have been extended due to the volume of unexchanged notes still in circulation.
The meeting between the President and CBN Governor is another attempt to find a lasting solution to the issue.
Many citizens are hoping that the outcome of the meeting will lead to a resolution that will ease their struggles with the old Naira notes. However, some are understandably cautious and skeptical, as past meetings have not resulted in significant changes.
Regardless of the outcome of the meeting, it is essential to keep the citizens' interests in mind and ensure that the exchange process is as seamless as possible for them.
Hopefully, a lasting solution will be found, and the issue of the old Naira notes can finally be put to rest.
THREE (3) DAYS TO ELECTION DATE
My next post will be on the upcoming election. Three (3) days to go before everyone would be out there to cast their vote for the next president of the country.
The three most likely to win are
1. Bola Ahmed Tinubu of APC
2. Atiku of PDP
3. Peter Obi of Labor part (LP)
Get ready as I will be sharing insight and latest news concerning the election and review in general.
128.646 SRY