Falana faults CBN over failure to obey Supreme Court order to put on hold implementation of deadline

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) says the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is wrong for not obeying an order of the supreme court suspending the implementation of the February 10 deadline on the old naira notes.

Ruling on an ex parte application brought by three states: Kaduna, Kogi, and Zamfara, the supreme court, on February 8, restrained the CBN from giving effect to the deadline on the use of old notes.

Abubakar Malami. attorney-general of the federation (AGF), who is the sole respondent in the suit has also filed a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter.

However, Malami said the federal government would obey the order in line with the rule of law.

Despite the assurance to comply with the order, some commercial banks, filling stations, and traders have stopped accepting the old naira notes from customers.

In an interview on Tuesday, Falana said the CBN has a responsibility to direct commercial banks to comply with the order of the court.

He said the CBN and its governor cannot refuse to obey the court order on the excuse that it is not a party in the suit.