There have been mixed reactions from Nigerians on the Supreme Court’s decision to temporarily halt the move by the Federal Government to ban the use of the old Naira notes from February 10, 2023.
QUEST TIMES had reported on Wednesday that a seven-member panel led by Justice John Okoro, stopped the policy of the federal government in a ruling in an ex parte application brought by three northern states of Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara.
The three states had specifically applied for an order of Interim Injunction restraining “the federal government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) or the commercial banks from suspending or determining or ending on February 10, 2023, the time frame with which the now older version of the 200, 500 and 1,000 denomination of the Naira may no longer be legal tender, pending the hearing and determination of their motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction.”
Moving the application on Wednesday, counsel to the applicants, Mr A. I. Mustapha, SAN, had urged the Supreme Court to grant the application in the interest of justice and the well-being of Nigeria.
Mustapha stated that the government’s policy has led to an “excruciating situation that is almost leading to anarchy in the land.”
Nigerians have taken to Twitter to react to the development. Some criticized the Supreme Court’s decision, while others hailed the apex court.
Here are some comments gathered from Twitter:
@aholagunju, “A win for democracy!
@MaziGomez, “This is the time Buhari should disobey a court order. Not all those ones he’s been doing.”
@KenUttih, “Yet again, the same Supreme Court. We need something beyond the norm to fight corruption in Nigeria. Citizens must play the major role to make it happen no matter the method adopted.”
@OpigoPeter, “This whole new Naira note drama is beginning to look like a comedy show.”
@SkinnyBoi001, “Even if the deadline is extended to December this year, people would still go through what they are going through now.”
@Classic84073745, “Why are all these APC governors taking this money issue very seriously? They never take security and educational matters seriously like this.”
Naira Redesign: “All the 36 states governors have unanimously agreed that like every country, let the old notes and the new notes be used side by side to such a time when the old notes have been systematically drawn out of circulation” – Malam @elrufai pic.twitter.com/HhGxBIV6F2
— Yahaya Sani A (@YahayaSaniA) February 7, 2023
@Danidon, “Clearly, President Buhari is not the strongest person in APC. Why are they bent on stopping this? Why are they not compelling CBN to make the new notes more available instead?
@Mr_temitope, “Nigerian politicians always have their own way. Now, it seems like the court has joined them.”
@Mr_temitope, “Nigeria politicians will always have their way. This is a sad reality.”
@austinemarobe, “If they can do it for old Naira notes, they can do it for Fuel and all other problems we are having in the country.”
@630bbba13a784b7, “Pain relief news, CBN should do the needful by making new Naira notes available to us. People are going through a lot. Only you know.”
@estoyjsybruce, “This compromised Supreme Court.”
@ChidiNdumnego, “I’m really ashamed of the Nigerian Judiciary; really ashamed. It keeps churning out immoral judgments of late.”
@eekabadcrane, “I welcome this order from the supreme court.”