Nigeria’s Minister for Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, has asked the Nigerian Supreme Court to dismiss a lawsuit by three states (Kaduna, Zamfara, and Kogi States) over the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
No reasonable cause: In court filings dated February 8, 2023, Malami argued that the plaintiffs have not shown any reasonable cause of action against the defendant.
The preliminary objection, which was filed by the AGF through his lawyers – Mahmud Magaji and Tijanni Gazali, also argued that the Supreme Court lacks jurisdiction for such monetary matters. He said:
- “The plaintiffs have equally not shown the reasonable cause of action against the defendant. The claims or reliefs are not against the federation, but the Federal Government and its Agency, the Central Bank of Nigeria.
- “The Federal Government of Nigeria is distinct from the Federation or the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Plaintiffs have no grievance whatsoever against the Federation of Nigeria. This suit has disclosed no dispute that invokes this (Supreme) Court’s original jurisdiction as constitutionally defined.”
The ruling was issued on Wednesday morning by a seven-member panel led by Justice John Okoro, halting an ex parte application brought by three northern states of Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara.
Justice Okoro also adjourned the matter until February 15 for a hearing of the main suit.
