CDD: Urges Buhari To Respect Supreme Court Ruling On Naira Notes.

By our reporter 

Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has asked that President Mohammadu Buhari should respect supreme court ruling on Naira note.This followed the recent broadcast by the President on the crisis caused by the implementation of the Naira redesign and cash swap policy of the Federal Government 

 This was contained in a press statements of February 16, 2023 and signed by the Director, Idayat Hassan 

“We note, with grave concern, the President’s decision to unfortunately take steps contrary to the position of the Supreme Court on a case concerning the policy; this is sub-judice”the statement added.

 It would be recalled that the apex court had given a ruling on the implementation of the redesign policy which says that the old notes remain legal tender until the court gives the final verdict on the matter.                                                                                                                                    The statement added that anything done outside the court ruling therefore amounts to a flagrant disobedience and violation of the orders of the highest court in the land.

“For the President to carry on as if the ruling of the Supreme Court is of no effect. CDD is convinced that this is an egregious affront on the rule of law, and the principle of separation of powers. In a constitutional democracy, which is anchored on the rule of law and separation of powers, the President’s action amounts to an unconstitutional power grab, which degrades our democracy”. 

                                                                                                                                                     The statement continued, “President Buhari’s decision has dire consequences for the 2023 general elections, which are less than 6 days away, Observers from all over the world are in Nigeria to witness the elections and report on the growth of the Nigerian democracy. This flagrant side-stepping of the Supreme Court’s decision does no good for the nation, the elections and the democracy we have collectively nurtured over the last 23 years”.

“The President has no authority whatsoever to override any court in the land, talk less of the Supreme Court. CDD therefore calls on President Buhari to immediately purge himself of his unconstitutional overarch and align himself with the ruling of the apex court”.

” For a government with a history of routinely disobeying court orders, this goes beyond the fine details of policy preferences. It is about respect for the courts critical institutions, which stand as pillars of our democracy, whether their verdicts sit well with the government or not”.