Attorney-General of Lagos State and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, has joined the debate, saying the rejection of the old Naira notes is contrary to the Supreme Court’s stand.
Onigbanjo stated this when he appeared on TVC Business Show, adding that petrol stations, banks and others, who reject the old Naira notes could be prosecuted.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria decried the lingering Naira scarcity in the land and the high charges by Point-of-Sales operators that have fostered untold hardship on Nigerians.
He noted that people, who are hungry and have their means of livelihood eroded, cannot care about any macro-economic policy or its short or long-term gain.
The Attorney-General said: “There is a contract between a customer and a bank that says when you bring your money to us you can have it back on demand. Any bank that refuses to give the money on demand has violated the terms and conditions of that contract and can be sued. I will advise Lagosians who have experienced suffering and injury as a result of the situation to press charges”.
In his view, it is ridiculous that Nigerians are buying their own money. “Even the producers of goods and services are losing money due to the scarcity of new notes to purchase their products easily”, he said.
On his legal perspective on the recent Supreme Court ruling, the AG noted that though President Muhamadu Buhari has enormous powers, he cannot repeal the order of the Supreme Court or any other court in the country.
President Muhamadu Buhari had on Thursday, February 16, announced that the CBN would allow banks to circulate the old N200 notes until April 10.
This is contrary to the Supreme Court’s position that the old and new notes should co-exist until the substantive matter, which will be heard on February 22, is heard and determined.