JUST IN: Emefiele, Malami to be charged with contempt over Naira crisis [DETAILS]
Kogi, Kaduna and Zamfara states have finalised arrangements to initiate contempt proceedings against the Minister of Justice who also doubles as the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN), and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele despite the Monday night’s declaration of the old Naira notes as legal tender.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the lead counsel for the three states, Abdulhakeem Mustapha (SAN) disclosed to the press on Thursday that the CBN’s official statement was a mere camouflage to give the impression of compliance. Recall that weeks ago, the Supreme Court invalidated the Naira redesign policy introduced by the CBN, citing a defective timing and implementation.
Delivering judgment in a suit instituted by three states of the federation, a seven-member panel of the apex court held that the old N200, N500 and N1000 notes remain legal tender until the end of the year. However, over one week since the verdict, neither the CBN governor nor the Attorney-General of the Federation made any official statement about compliance with the apex court ruling.
The uncertainty about the true status of things prompted traders and businesses across the country to continue rejecting the old currency. The apex bank’s statement on Monday came few hours after the presidency said the CBN had no reason not to comply with court orders on the excuse of waiting for directives from President Muhammadu Buhari.
But Mustapha dismissed the CBN’s statement as a gimmick, insisting that the apex bank had not complied with the Supreme Court order. The senior advocate revealed that he had his clients’ instructions to initiate contempt proceedings against Malami and Emefiele. “The press release made by the Central Bank of Nigeria is just a mere camouflage just to give an impression of compliance. There is nothing like that. And our clients, Kaduna, Kogi, Zamfara, and states have told us that we should go on with the already initiated contempt of proceedings against the Attorney General and the Central Bank Governor.
“The decision of the Supreme Court has not been complied with. They are in contempt of court. We are going to reactivate the already-initiated contempt proceedings. There is a legal process around it,” he told Punch. On when Nigerians should expect the proceeding to start, he said, “I can confirm to you that we have a clear mandate for our clients to proceed with the already initiated contempt proceedings because it is clear to all and sundry that the CBN is just playing pranks.
“They are not sincere. And they are acting as if they are above the law. “The constitution is clear that all organs and everybody must ensure that the decision of the Supreme Court is enforced.”
Source: Politics Nigeria
Zamfara: PDP Governorship Candidate Escapes Assassination Few Hours To Election
The convoy of the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dauda Lawal on Thursday was attacked by suspected hoodlums. Naija News learnt that the thugs attacked Lawal’s convoy on Sani Abacha Way, GRA in the Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State. The Dauda Lawa Media Office in a statement released on Thursday noted said the attack was an attempt to assassinate the PDP governorship candidate.
The Lawal media team accused the state-backed anti-thuggery committee of the attack. According to the media, the anti-thuggery committee ambushed the convoy and opened fire on the campaign vehicles in Lawal’s convoy during the attack on Thursday night. The incident reportedly saw many members of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the Governorship Candidate injured. The media team noted that this is the second time within a month that the anti-thuggery committee has made attempts on the life of Lawal.
Lawal, together with some party members and supporters, had a last-minute campaign rally in Magami, and Wanke areas of the state before the attack. The statement reads, “The Zamfara State government is hell-bent and desperate to cause chaos in a few days to the governorship polls across the country. “This clandestine move by the APC government is a clear sign that the odds are not in their favour, a reason why they resorted to the use of the illegally formed anti-thuggery committee to assassinate the PDP candidate.
“The convoy of the Zamfara State PDP Governorship candidate, Dauda Lawal on Thursday, March 16, 2023, came under heavy attack from armed men of the illegal anti-thuggery committee on the Sani Abacha Way of the GRA in Gusau Local Government Area of the state. “Dauda Lawal had gone to some areas for a last-minute campaign and on his way back home, the uniformed anti-thuggery launched a heavy attack on him, spraying his car and backup vehicles with bullets.
“This is the second time within a month that the anti-thuggery assassins have made attempts on the life of the PDP Candidate. “The anti-thuggery committee had on the 23rd February 2023 fired gunshots at Lawal’s convoy which had his wife on board.
“The anti-thuggery is operating illegally in Zamfara State, because there is an existing court order restraining the committee from harassing, intimidating, brutalizing, terrorizing, arresting, detaining, and any form of torture of members of the opposition parties. “Although no life was lost in the recent onslaught by the illegal anti-thuggery committee, one of the security men attached to the PDP governorship candidate sustained injuries.
Source: Naija News