The Lagos State Government has said that despite the broadcast by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday on the Naira swap policy of his government, the ruling of the Supreme Court on the matter remains valid.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), made the state’s position known, The Eagle Online reports.
Onigbanjo said Buhari’s position rejecting the old N500 and N1,000 notes but reintroducing the N200 note was contrary to the Supreme Court’s stand.
Onigbanjo stated this when he appeared on TVC Business Show on Thursday, adding that petrol stations, banks and others who reject the old notes could be prosecuted.
The Senior Advocate decried the lingering naira scarcity in the land and the high charges by Point of Sale 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 the Commissioner’s 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,” Onigbanjo said.
On his legal perspective on the recent Supreme Court ruling, the AG noted that though President Buhari has enormous powers, he cannot repeal the order of the Supreme Court or any other court in the country.
Buhari had in a broadcast announced that the Central Bank of Nigeria 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.
