Court Throws Out N1 Billion Suit Against Buhari, Emefiele Over Naira Redesign
Court Throws Out N1 Billion Suit Against Buhari, Emefiele Over Naira Redesign
A Federal High Court in Abuja has thrown out a N1 billion suit filed against former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, over the hardship caused by the 2023 naira redesign policy.
The suit was struck out due to a lack of diligent prosecution by the plaintiff, Uthman Tochukwu, an Abuja-based legal practitioner.
Tochukwu had filed the suit, marked as FHC/ABJ/CS/418/2023, against Buhari, the Attorney General of the Federation, Emefiele, the CBN, and two commercial banks, alleging that the naira redesign policy had imposed severe hardships on Nigerians.
He claimed that his fundamental rights to freedom of movement and personal dignity were violated, and sought N1 billion in damages from the defendants.
The plaintiff also requested a court order to prevent the defendants from further withholding the old N200, N500, and N1,000 denominations.
However, despite filing the suit in 2023, Tochukwu and his counsel, Bala Dakum, failed to attend court proceedings or provide any explanation for their absence.
At the hearing on Monday, Justice Inyang Ekwo noted that the plaintiff had deliberately abandoned his case, and that his repeated absence from court without legal representation or explanation was unacceptable. The counsel for the third and fourth defendants, Chikelue Amasiani, argued that the plaintiff had shown no commitment or seriousness in prosecuting the case, and urged the court to strike out the matter.
In a brief ruling, Justice Ekwo concurred with the defence counsel and struck out the suit, allowing the plaintiff the option to revive it in the future if prepared to proceed diligently. The court’s decision brings an end to the lawsuit, which had sought to hold the defendants accountable for the hardships caused by the naira redesign policy.
The naira redesign policy, which was introduced in 2023, had caused widespread hardship and controversy, with many Nigerians struggling to access their funds and conduct daily transactions. The policy had been criticized for its poor implementation and the lack of adequate planning, which had led to a shortage of new naira notes and a surge in prices of goods and services.
The court’s decision to strike out the suit is a significant development in the ongoing debate about the naira redesign policy and its impact on Nigerians.
While the plaintiff’s lawsuit had sought to hold the defendants accountable for the hardships caused by the policy, the court’s decision suggests that the plaintiff’s failure to prosecute the case diligently was a significant factor in the outcome.
