The governments of Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara States have initiated contempt proceedings against Abubakar Malami, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF); and Godwin Emefiele, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), over their failure to comply with a Supreme Court order on old Naira notes.
On February 8, the Supreme Court restrained the CBN from giving effect to the deadline on the use of old notes following an ex parte application brought by the three states.
The states are arguing that the implementation of the policy has caused untold hardship on residents.
The AGF, who is the sole respondent, had also filed a preliminary objection to the suit, arguing that the Supreme Court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
The AGF also said the plaintiffs failed to join the CBN in the suit, which has just the AGF as the sole plaintiff.
Ondo, Ekiti, Katsina, Ogun, Cross River, Lagos, and Sokoto States have also joined the suit as co-plaintiffs, while Edo and Bayelsa States have joined the AGF as defendants.
In the fresh documents filed before the apex court, the three states–Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara — cautioned the AGF and Emefiele about the consequences of their continued failure to comply with the apex court’s order made on February 8.
The two sets of Form 48, filed by the team of lawyers representing the three states, formed part of the applications now awaiting the apex court’s consideration when proceedings resume on Wednesday.