Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has declared that President Muhammadu Buhari did not breach the Supreme Court’s injunction as regards the Naira redesign and currency swap issue.
Malami argued that as far as the rule of law is concerned, there are several options available.
The minister made the declaration Thursday, during the 67th ministerial press briefing at the State House.
A seven-member panel of the Supreme Court had ordered the suspension of the naira swap deadlines and directed the continued use of the old notes, following a request by three state governors.
However, in a broadcast, the president only restored the validity of the old 200 notes, maintaining that the old 500 and 1000 notes had ceased to be valid, a declaration that stirred various reactions across the country.
On his part, Professor Mike Ozekhome (SAN) said Buhari has no powers to override the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
In his latest statement regarding the Naira redesign and Naira swap crisis, which has left many Nigerians confused, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) said Buhari’s national broadcast on the issue was more like a military tyrant’s contemplation.
He regretted that Buhari’s “imperious order was a frontal call to chaos, anarchy and national upheaval”.
The counsel for the applicants cited Section 232(1), Section 6(6)(b) and Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which includes the protection of the Supreme Court’s dignity and which ensure compliance with its orders by all persons and authorities.
“Contrary to the order of the Honourable Court, the substantive 1st defendant through the President of the Federation, and its agent, the Central Bank of Nigeria, have repeatedly released statements that the old Naira Notes are no longer legal tender, hence resulting in misleading the general public on what the status quo to be complied with, pendente lite, should be,” the relief partly read.