….Many Nigerians believe a further adjournment of the case would deepen the hardships the naira redesign policy by the CBN is causing them.
The Supreme Court has adjourned the suit filed by some state governments to challenge the 10 February deadline set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to end the use of old naira notes.
A seven-member panel of the court led by John Okoro adjourned the case on Wednesday until 22 February.
The adjournment dashed the hopes of many Nigerians who were anticipating a definite pronouncement of the court to address the federal government’s refusal to comply with its earlier order suspending the 10 February deadline.
Nigerians face an unprecedented cash crunch less than two weeks to nation’s general elections.
The crisis has plunged many citizens and their businesses into hardships, with many finding it extremely difficult to meet their basic daily needs.
Many believe that a further adjournment of the hearing and final resolution of the case by the court will deepen the hardships Nigerians are grappling with as a result of the naira redesign policy of the CBN.
The court, before postponing its sitting, joined a total of nine states as new parties to the suit.
The suit was originally initiated against the federal government by three states controlled by the All Progressives Congress (APC) as co-plaintiffs – Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara states.
All except one of the newly joined co-plaintiffs, are also controlled by the APC. Only Sokoto State (North-west) is being governed by a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor.
The rest of the new co-plaintiffs, who are in support of the suit and against the CBN policy, are: Cross River (South-south), Lagos (South-west), Ogun (South-west), Katsina (North-west), Ondo (South-west) and Ekiti (South-west) states.
But of the newly joined nine states, seven will be supporting the suit and by extension the controversial CBN policy as co-plaintiffs, while the two others will be arguing against the suit.
Two other states – Bayelsa and Edo – joined as co-defendants are both controlled by PDP governors.
