NewsNaira Redesign: Security Agencies To Determine Action On Alleged Treasonable Comments –...

Naira Redesign: Security Agencies To Determine Action On Alleged Treasonable Comments – Malami

February 23, (THEWILL) – Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on Thursday, said the fate of individuals including state governors being investigated for alleged treasonable utterances over the naira redesign will be determined by the security agencies involved.

Malami made the clarification while appearing on the Ministerial Media Briefing, organised by the Presidential Communications Team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

THEWILL reports that some governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), led by Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, had openly denigrated the President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive on the new monetary policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

While directing the CBN to recirculate the old N200 note to the financial system to ease the current cash crunch, President Buhari, in a nationwide broadcast, had insisted that the N500 and N1000 notes remain illegal and phased out.

But in total affront to the President’s approval of the monentary policy directive of the apex bank, Governor El-Rufai doubled down his opposition to the policy in a statewide broadcast.

In a counter directive, the governor insisted that all previous bank notes remain legal tender. He described the president’s directive that the new monetary policy of the CBN stands as illegal and an affront on the Supreme Court.

Governor El-rufai directed residents of Kaduna State to ignore what he described as an unlawful order and continue to spend the old bank notes that the CBN has phased out.

“Continue to use them as legal tender as ordered by the Supreme Court of Nigeria. No deadline can render them worthless, ever. The law is on your side. The Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007 and the Bills of Exchange Act, both oblige the CBN to recognise your old notes and give you value in new notes whenever you bring them to the CBN, even in the next 100 years”, he said.

Similarly, his counterpart in Ogun, Lagos, Kano, Niger, Kogi and Zamfara, directed that the old naira notes remained legal tender in their States.

The Edo State government, also accused former chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, of instigating protest against the cash swap policy in the State.

While noting the certain undertones of treason in some of the utterances, Malami said investigation cannot be ruled out, adding that the relevant security agencies will determine if there will be the need for further action.

Malami stressed the importance of the redesign policy, which he said will enable citizens to assume collective ownership of the electoral system rather than allowing a few moneybags to take charge.

He also said the policy is designed to allow freedom of choice and also fight corruption.

Speaking extensively on the benefits electoral reforms, Malami noted that it is only the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration that has exercised the political will to enhance democratic practice through legislative, political and administrative interventions.

On the Supreme Court order on naira redesign, he affirmed that President Buhari has not acted in breach, noting that as far as the rule of law is concern, there are many options available.

About the Author

Homepage | Recent Posts

More like this
Related

Bayelsa Journalists Call On Gov Douye Diri To Appoint Easterday As Commissioner

March 28, (THEWILL) - As Bayelsa State Governor,...

FAAN Shuts Down KFC Outlet At MMIA Over PRM Discrimination

March 28, (THEWILL) - The Federal Airports Authority...

FirstNews Editor Segun Olatunji Regains Freedom From DIA Custody

March 28, (THEWILL) - The Editor of FirstNews,...