Abuja, March 13, 2023 – The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) says Nigeria is drifting toward dictatorship by the refusal of federal government to obey the Supreme Court’s order restoring the legal status and use of old naira notes till December 31, 2023.
NBA made the observation on Monday in a statement signed by its President, Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau.
“We cannot under any guise or pretence accept or tolerate any appearance of autocracy or dictatorship.
“Our system of democratic governance has come to stay, it must not only be respected by all and sundry but must also be jealously guarded and protected.
“This is the greatest test or challenge to our constitutional democracy and the Executive cannot afford to disregard the ORDERS of the Supreme Court made for the benefit of the people that elected it to power,” it said.
The Supreme Court, had on March 3, ordered the federal government to restore the status of the legal tender status of old naira notes of N500 and N1000 and allow it to circulate along with the new notes till Dec. 31, 2023.
The order was the decision of the Supreme Courts in a suit filed by some state governments on the naira redesign policy. (GBN)
