News

New Naira Notes: Another Northern State Drags FG To Supreme Court

Published

1 year ago

February 11, 2023

Editor

The Niger State Government on Saturday revealed that it had filed a lawsuit against the Federal Government of Nigeria over the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at the Supreme Court.

This was disclosed in a statement by the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Justice Nasara Danmallam, in Minna.

According to Danmallam, the case with suit number SC/CV/210/2023 was filed on Friday, with the Niger State Government as the plaintiff.

This is coming less than a week after three Northern States, Kaduna, Kogi, and Zamfara governments had filed a lawsuit against the Federal Government on the same issue.

The statement said that the Niger State government was seeking an extension of the timeframe given by the CBN for the currency swap and withdrawal from circulation of old N200, N500 and N1,000, amongst other reliefs.

It added that the three months given by the Federal government for the withdrawal of old currency nationwide was not reasonable and was in violation of sections 13, 14 (2) (b), 17 (1) (c) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

In the affidavit in support of the originating summons, filed at the Supreme Court, the Niger Government contended that the unavailability of the newly redesigned notes had caused untold hardships and sufferings on the inhabitants of the State, especially rural dwellers across the State.

Recall that the CBN had announced an extension of its previous deadline for a full transition to the new naira notes.

The deadline, according to the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, was moved to February 10, 2023.

However, the Supreme Court had already annulled the CBN deadline of Feb. 10.

A seven-man panel led by Justice John Okoro, in a unanimous ruling last Wednesday, ordered that the old naira notes remain in circulation until Feb. 15 when the apex court will rule on the matter.

News

EFCC Trial: ‘Even The Prophets Went To Prison’ – Buhari’s Minister Comforts Self In Court

Published

4 hours ago

May 10, 2024

Editor

A former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, standing trial for an alleged N7.2bn fraud, said he was ready to go to prison just like the prophets.

Sirika, his daughter, and three others were arraigned at a Federal Capital Territory High Court on Thursday on a six-count amended criminal charge before Justice Sylvanus Oriji.

A video of the ex-minister speaking in court with his lawyers surfaced on X on Thursday.

In the video, Sirika, dressed in cream Babariga, could be heard saying, “It’s okay. Fatima, it’s okay,” while comforting his daughter.

He continued, “Even prophets have gone (to prison). Those that went, haven’t they finished theirs already?…whatever Allah says”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had accused the ex-minister, his daughter, son-in-law and Al-Duraq Investment Limited, of fraud in connection with the botched Nigerian Air project.

Meanwhile, the court granted each of the defendants bail in the sum of N100m with two sureties each.

Before the trial judge, Justice Sylvanus Orji granted the bail request of the defendants, they pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against them after it was read out to them.

The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs SAN, had informed the court of an amended charge by the EFCC dated May 7, and filed on May 8, which was not opposed by the counsel for the defendants.

Sirika’s lead counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), informed the court of his client’s bail application dated May 6.

The other defendants similarly, moved their bail applications and prayed the court to be liberal in the bail conditions.

Jacobs, on his part, told the court that all the defendants were on administrative bail and asked the court to grant bail on the condition that would make them appear for their trials.

Apart from the N100m bail, Justice Osuji added that one of the sureties must own a landed property with valid land titles in like sum within the Federal Capital Territory.

The judge also held that the sureties must depose to an affidavit of means while he barred the defendants from travelling outside the country without its permission.

He added that failure to fulfil the bail conditions would earn the defendants a stay in a correctional facility.