President Buhari Sued By SERAP Over Directive On Naira Notes

Amid the backlash and controversy surrounding the old and new naira notes, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a suit against President Muhammadu Buhari for what it calls the "unlawful ban" on the old N500 and N1,000 notes.

President Buhari had in his most recent broadcast declared that the old N200 notes remain valid until April 10, 2023, notably excluding the old N500 and N1,000 notes.

In the suit filed by SERAP, the group is asking the court for a declaration that Buhari’s directive is a fundamental breach of section 287(1).

Also included 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 (CBN).

Marked FHC/ABJ/CS/233/2023 and filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja on Friday, the suit is requesting the court to determine "whether President 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".

“Upholding the rule of law is the cornerstone of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.

“President Buhari and other public officials and authorities have a binding legal responsibility to strictly comply with the rule of law and obey the decisions by the Supreme Court, and all other courts”, SERAP stated in the suit.

A date for the hearing of the suit is yet to be fixed.