News

Group Drags Buhari To Court Over Ban On Old N500, N1,000 Notes

Published

1 year ago

February 19, 2023

Editor

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has filed a lawsuit against President Muhammadu Buhari over “the unlawful directive banning the use of old N500 and N1,000 banknotes, contrary to the interim injunction granted by the Supreme Court that the old N200, N500, and N1000 notes remain legal tender.”

Joined in the suit as defendants are the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The PUNCH reports that the Supreme Court in a case initially brought by 10 states recently held that the old banknotes remain legal tender pending the determination of a motion on notice fixed for February 22. The deadline for the swap of the old notes expired February 10.

However, Buhari in a national broadcast on Thursday directed the CBN to recirculate only the old N200 banknotes, banning the use of old N500 and N1,000 notes in the country.

In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/233/2023 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, SERAP is asking the court to determine “whether Buhari’s directive banning the N500 and N1,000 banknotes is not inconsistent and incompatible with the constitutional duties to obey decisions of the Supreme Court and oath of office.”

SERAP is asking the court for “a declaration that Buhari’s directive banning the use of old N500 and N1,000 banknotes is a fundamental breach of section 287(1) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) and his constitutional oath of office, and therefore unconstitutional, unlawful, null and void.”

It also seeks an order of interim injunction restraining Buhari, the CBN and Malami, their agents or privies, from further enforcing the presidential directive banning the old N500 and N1,000 banknotes, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed in its suit.

The suit was filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, and Kolawole Oluwadare.

SERAP is also asking the court for the following reliefs:

A declaration that by virtue of section 287(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, 1999, Buhari, the CBN and Malami have a constitutional duty to obey and enforce any decisions and orders of the Supreme Court, particularly the order allowing the use of old N200, N500 and N1,000 banknotes;

An order restraining and stopping the CBN from carrying out and giving effect to the directive of the President directing and approving that the old N500 and N1,000 banknotes are no longer legal tender and the old N200 banknote will cease to be legal tender on April10, 2023, in compliance with the order of the Supreme Court of Nigeria made on February 8, 2023 in the Suit Number SC/CV/162/2023 – Attorney General of Kaduna State & two Ors v. Attorney General of the Federation;

And an order for the CBN to direct all commercial banks in Nigeria to accept and give out the old N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes as legal tender concurrently along with the new banknotes of the same denomination in line with the order of the Supreme Court.

According to The PUNCH, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

News

Amadasun Owns Landed Property Situated At Zone MD Obazagbon, Benin Court Rules

Published

1 hour ago

May 20, 2024

Editor

A Benin High Court presided over by Hon Justice A.N. Erhabor has issued a certificate of “execution of warrant of possession” to Mr Frank Omo- Amadasun in order to take full possession of his landed property situated at Zone MD/A44/OBAZAGBON in lkpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.

In 2021, some persons encroached the landed property measuring 1,000 feets by 1,000 feets in Obazagbon near Avbiama in Ikpoba okha local government area of Edo state.

The land acquired in 1979, was in full control of the complainant before its encroachment.

This forced Amadasun to institute a legal procedure against those who encroached on his land including Johnson Akpobosa, Peter Akpobosa, Abel Oyo Akpobosa l, Mrs Omoruyi, Mrs Oronsaye and 11 unknown persons.

In the case marked: No.B/975/2021, there was consequently an enrolment of order where the judge granted an interlocutory injunction restraining all the defendants/ respondents, their servants, agents, or any person howsoever described as acting on their behalf or instruction from further trespassing on the piece or parcel of land measuring approximately 1,000 feets by 1,000 feets known as plot 53351 lying and situate at Zone MD/A44/OBAZAGBON, lkpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suite before the court.

But despite the restraining order, the defendants went ahead to start developing property in the land.

In the judgement, the court confirmed that Mr Amadasun has a verifiable Certificate of Occupancy to the land with digital registrar in the EDOGIS.

The court also confirmed that the claimant is the rightful owner in possession of 1,000 feets by 1,000 feets bounded by Beacon numbers 542, 543, 544 and 454 which covers an area measuring approximately 8, 557 hectares now known as plot 53351, lying and situate at Obazagbon in lkpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.

After the judgement, the claimant, then got a certificate of execution of a warrant of possession which has been fully executed.

Contacted , the Edo state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor said the police received a letter from the Deputy Director of the High Court to execute the court order over the land.

SP Chidi Nwabuzor said the Edo state Commissioner of Police , CP Funsho Adegboye has since ordered men of the Anti Kidnapping And Cybercrime Unit of the Edo State Police Command to take over the judgement execution order.

As at Press time, the claimant has since taken over the full possession of the land as ordered by the court but not without resistance by some persons in Obazagbon in Ikpoba Okha local government area of Edo state.

News

Ex-First Bank Chairman Is Dead

Published

3 hours ago

May 20, 2024

Editor

A former Minister of Labour and former Chairman of First Bank Nigeria, Ajibola Afonja has died aged 82.

The Oyo-born Prince passed away on Sunday night, May 19 at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Confirming the passage of the former Minister in a statement, the Oyo Global Forum (OGF) through its Chairman, Taiwo Adebayo described the late Afonja as a unifier.

“On this dark day in Oyo, we mourn the loss of Ajibola Afonja, former Labour Minister and Chairman of First Bank Nigeria, who passed away on Sunday night, aged 82.

“Although, a national figure with tremendous influence, he was particularly light for the Oyo community where he made pioneering efforts as an industrialist. His legacy of generosity and open-heartedness touched countless lives, and his presence will be profoundly missed.

“Until his last month, Daddy IDS, as he was affectionately known, as a reference to his manufacturing company, remained hardworking, dedicated to realizing one of the most transformative business visions for the country’s economy. It was the E-Customs project.

“His absence leaves a void that will be difficult to fill, but his spirit of generosity and leadership will continue to inspire us. For all of us that he inspired, we shall honour his memory by carrying forward the values he embodied and continuing his legacy of service and compassion, the values that guide OGF, which he supported during his lifetime.”

Afonja was Chairman of the Board of Directors of First Bank Plc and was appointed as Minister of Labour under the interim government of Earnest Shonekan.

He was the chairman of Integrated Dimensional System and many other companies. He attended Kingston University, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, United Kingdom where he bagged a degree in Accounting in 1970.

News

UK Regulator Reports Air Peace Over Alleged Safety Violation

Published

6 hours ago

May 20, 2024

Editor

The United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority has written Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Authority stating Air Peace has reportedly violated some aviation safety regulations

The development came barely three months after the Nigerian carrier commenced the Lagos-London route.

Two mandatory occurrence reports on Air Peace had been reportedly sent to the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority.

The UK CAA, in turn, forwarded the complaints to the NCAA.

The CAA’s letter of complaint forwarded to NCAA was entitled; ‘United Kingdom SAFA Ramp Inspection Report with reference number: CAA-UK, -2024-0217’ and ‘NATS Management System Safety Report.’

The NCAA has also written to Air Peace to provide clarification on the issues.

The letter, with reference number: NCAA/DOLTS/APL/Vol.11/03624 was titled, “United Kingdom SAFA Ramp Inspection Report.

It was dated May 14, 2024, and signed by the NCAA General Manager of Operations, Capt. O.O. Lawani.

In the letter, the NCAA said the UK CAA had called its attention to the no operational approval of Electronic Flight Bag functions affecting the safe operation of the aircraft, while adding that the captain of the flight admitted that an Electronic Flight Bag was being used for navigational purposes.

NCAA further noted that the CAA stated in its letter that there was “no mounting device for the use of EFB, no charging points or battery for backup.”

Air Peace recently commenced operation to London Gatwick from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos under the Bilateral Air Services Agreement, which Nigeria has with the UK.

The spokesperson of Air Peace, Stanley Olisa, could not be reached as of press time.

When called, the spokesperson of the airline picked but when this reporter began to enquire about the development, he kept mute until the call ended.

The PUNCH correspondent also sent a text message of enquiry to the spokesman but there was no response as of the time of filing this report.