Federal High Court Strikes Out N1bn Suit Against Buhari, Emefiele Over Naira Redesign Hardship

|By Adejumo Adekunle-

-Court Strikes Out N1bn Naira Redesign Lawsuit Against Buhari, Emefiele
–Judge Rules Plaintiff Abandoned Case, Lacked Diligent Prosecution

Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday struck out a N1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit filed against former President Muhammadu Buhari and ex-Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele over the 2023 Naira redesign crisis.

The court threw out the suit filed by Abuja-based lawyer, Uthman Isa Tochukwu, for lack of diligent prosecution. Justice Ekwo ruled that Tochukwu had abandoned his case, noting his repeated failure to appear in court without legal representation or explanation.

Tochukwu had dragged Buhari, the Attorney General of the Federation, Emefiele, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and two commercial banks before the court, alleging that they violated his fundamental rights during the Naira scarcity that hit Nigeria between January and March 2023.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/418/2023, claimed that the Naira redesign policy restricted Tochukwu’s freedom of movement and denied him access to his funds in two commercial banks. He demanded N1 billion in damages, a perpetual injunction against withholding the old N200, N500, and N1000 notes, and a public apology to be published in two national newspapers.

However, during Monday’s proceedings, neither Tochukwu nor his counsel, Bala Dakum, appeared in court, nor did they provide any reason for their absence.

Counsel to Emefiele and the CBN, Chikelue Amasiani, informed the court that the plaintiff had consistently failed to pursue the case since it was filed in 2023, and urged Justice Ekwo to strike it out.

Agreeing with the argument, Justice Ekwo ruled:

“The persistent absence of the plaintiff and counsel shows deliberate abandonment. This case is struck out.”

The ruling leaves the door open for the plaintiff to refile the case if he demonstrates seriousness in the future.