Badaru Takes FG To Court Over Cashless Policy, Old Naira Notes Deadline

The Governor of Jigawa State, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar has taken the Federal Government to court over the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) cashless policy and deadline for the old Naira notes.

The state government noted that the decision by the federal government has forced the people of the state into untold hardships. 

This was disclosed on Wednesday by Zainab Baba Santali, spokesperson of the Jigawa state Ministry of Justice.

The governors of Kano, Kaduna, Zamfara and Kogi states had equally taken the FG to court over the same issue.

The full statement reads: "The Attorney-General of Jigawa State Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu has on 15th February 2023, appeared before the Supreme Court of Justice in Abuja for the Jigawa State government, appealing to the apex court to determine whether the implementation of demonetization of N200, 500 and N1000 and and cash withdrawal limit on individuals and corporate bodies can in the spirit of Federalism be made without presenting the policies for deliberations before the Federal Executive Council and National Economic Council.

"The circular banning cash withdrawal from public accounts purportedly based on section 2 of the Money Laundering Act, 2022 and the NFIU Act, and other extant laws, the Jigawa State Government wants the supreme court to determine whether the ban is in line with sections 4 and 36 (12) of the Constitution (as amended). 

"Sequel to the above policies, the people of Jigawa State have been faced with hardships in their business activities and means of livelihood. 

"This as a result of failure to comply with due process of Law before formulation and implementation of the policies.

"The Honorable Attorney General of Jigawa State, the Plaintiff in the suit, as the Chief Law Officer of the State commenced the action by way of an Originating Summons, dated the 13th day of February 2023 and filed 14th day of February 2023 at the Supreme Court Registry, Abuja, against the Federal Government by challenging the policies in SUIT NO. SC/CV/227/2023 ATTORNEY GENERAL OF JIGAWA STATE V. ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION.

"The Attorney-General of Jigawa State, further prays for the apex court inter-alia to make an order restraining the Federal Government of Nigeria from further implementing the demonetization policy until due process is complied with.

"In this regard, the Jigawa State Government seeks redress, to allow the old N200, N500 and N1000 denominations to remain valid legal tender at their face value for the payment of any amount in Nigeria, and further reverse the cash withdrawal limit placed on individual and corporate accounts. 

"It is also part of the reliefs for the apex court to nullify the NFIU advisory circular banning cash withdrawal from government accounts for being null and void.

"In today’s sitting, the apex court has adjourned our case and of other states to Wednesday, 22nd February 2023, for a hearing."