Cash swap: Protests rock CBN, AGF offices in Abuja

Advertisements

. Bank workers threaten strike over attacks

Spats of protests rock the offices of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Attorney-General of the Federation, following a Supreme Court ruling that temporarily stopped the Federal governmGovernment ent from enforcing the February 10 deadline for discontinuation of the use of old naira notes.

The protesters who besieged the two offices shortly after the ruling, urged the CBN not to back down.

Leader of the protesters and coordinator of Civil Society Central Body, Obed Agu, called on Nigerians not to accept the old Naira notes in their own interest.

He accused the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola of working for the interest of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu as well as the G5 Governors.

He, therefore, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to issue an executive order to enforce the already set deadline, saying corrupt politicians seeking extension want to buy votes.

“We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to issue an executive order for the policy to terminate the February 10 deadline and prevent further extension. The Supreme Court wants to aid corrupt politicians in buy vote.

“The Supreme Court exparte application has no legal basis. We are rejecting it, because it is a plot to open the bank vaults to enable vote buyers and holders of illicit wealth to have cash to buy votes. We ask the CJN to hurriedly vacate the exparte order in the overall interest of the Nigeria election,” Agu said.

Continuing, he said: “We have suffered a lot in the hands of the Supreme Court in undermining any effort for credible election. The Supreme Court voided the card reader which aided and increased official election result rigging.

“The Supreme Court declared a man who came 4th in the election as governor of a state and that helped to destroy Imo state and the sanctity of the ballot. We won’t allow the CJN use the apex office to undermine our democracy and President Muhammadu Buhari’s promise of peaceful transition.”

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday had a meeting with the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, at the State House, Abuja.

This is the second time both men would be meeting in about 24 hours.

The duo, alongside Sokoto State. Governor, Aminu Tambuwal and his Kebbi counterpart, Atiku Bagudu, chairmen of the Nigeria Governors forum and Progressive governors forum, respectively, met at the State House on Tuesday.

Wednesday’s meeting, which happened shortly after this week’s Federal Executive Council meeting, was on the heels of a judgement of the Supreme Court temporarily stopping the Federal Government from implementing the February 10 deadline for the old 200, 500 and 1000 naira notes to cease being legal tenders.

On Monday, the governments of Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara states had in a motion ex parte filed by their lawyer, AbdulHakeem Mustapha, prayed the Supreme Court to stop the CBN’s naira redesign policy.

A seven-person panel of the Supreme Court led by Justice John Okoro unanimously granted an interim injunction restraining the FG, CBN and deposit banks from implementing the February 10, deadline pending the determination of a notice in respect of the issue on February 15.