MURIC Applauds Judiciary In Arabic On Naira Case
The Federal High Court has ruled in favor of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in a case filed by Barrister Malcolm Omirhobo, who sought the removal of Arabic inscriptions from the naira.
Justice Yellim Bogoro, presiding at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, dismissed the case, which began in late 2020.
Following the ruling, MURIC praised the judiciary for its decision. Professor Ishaq Akintola, Executive Director of MURIC, issued a statement on Tuesday, July 16th, 2024, calling the judgment “far-reaching, profound, didactic, and monumental.”
“This is a sweet victory. Once again, the Nigerian judiciary has demonstrated courage, intellectual excellence, and jurisprudential exactitude. This judgment is far-reaching, profound, didactic, and monumental,” said Professor Akintola.
He continued, “This case will teach Muslim-haters a lesson in tolerance and peaceful coexistence. The plaintiff, Barrister Omirhobo, went to court because he did not want to see Arabic inscriptions on naira notes anymore. We ascribed his action to sheer hatred when he sued the Central Bank in 2020, and we applied for a ‘joiner’.”
Professor Akintola recalled a press statement from November 16th, 2020, where MURIC criticized Omirhobo’s suit: “Omirhobo’s approach is not only naïve, it is pedestrian and kindergarten. This suit against Arabic on naira manifests acute desertification of religious tolerance, exhibition of undiluted acrobatic religiousity, NAFDAC-registered gymnastic spirituality, and Oxford cum Harvard-certificated ignorance. We have been vindicated.”
He emphasized the need for coexistence, stating, “Muslim-haters always oppose anything that has to do with Islam or Muslims. The case has proved that we own this country together. Nobody is going anywhere for anybody. Nobody can Shugaba Nigerian Muslims from their fatherland. We love Nigeria, and Nigeria will continue to accommodate both Christians and Muslims.”
“Even Muslims cannot wish away the Christians. That is the Nigeria we want. We must tolerate one another. We reject a situation in which some people will seek to expel Muslims, persecute them, or turn them into underdogs and second-class citizens. Nigeria is for all of us. Neither shall we oppress people of other faiths. We want to live here in dignity with our heads raised high.”
Professor Akintola reiterated MURIC’s commitment to defending freedom and fundamental human rights, saying, “MURIC will continue to defend the ideals of freedom and Allah-given fundamental human rights so that we can bequeath to our children, males and females, Muslims coming in later generations, an atmosphere devoid of fear, a climate filled with confidence, dignity, and self-esteem.”
Despite attempts to paint MURIC as a terrorist group, Akintola asserted that the organization remains guided by the rule of law and will continue to use legitimate means to pursue freedom for Nigerian Muslims.
He also commended their legal team, Hassan Fajimite and Yisa Kareem, for their dedication and hard work.
