The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday struck out a N1 billion lawsuit filed against former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, over the alleged hardship caused by the 2023 naira redesign policy, 9am News Report.
Justice Inyang Ekwo struck out the case due to the plaintiff’s lack of diligent prosecution.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/418/2023, was instituted by Uthman Tochukwu, an Abuja-based legal practitioner, who sued Buhari, the Attorney General of the Federation, Emefiele, the CBN, and two commercial banks.
Tochukwu alleged that the naira redesign exercise severely infringed upon his fundamental rights to freedom of movement and personal dignity. He stated that his inability to access his funds during the redesign period between January and March 2023 caused him significant hardship.
In his claims, Tochukwu sought N1 billion in damages, a public apology published in two national dailies, and a court order restraining the defendants from further withholding the old N200, N500, and N1,000 denominations.
At Monday’s session, neither Tochukwu nor his counsel, Bala Dakum, appeared in court. Justice Ekwo noted the plaintiff’s consistent absence without explanation and agreed with the submission of Mr. Chikelue Amasiani, counsel to Emefiele and the CBN, that the case had been abandoned.
Amasiani pointed out that since filing the case in 2023, the plaintiff and his lawyer had shown no seriousness or commitment to prosecuting the matter. He urged the court to strike it out, preserving the plaintiff’s right to revive it in the future if he chooses to proceed properly.
In a brief ruling, Justice Ekwo struck out the suit, emphasizing the need for diligent prosecution in legal matters.
This decision comes amid broader discussions surrounding the impacts of the controversial naira redesign, which sparked widespread cash shortages and disruptions across Nigeria in early 2023.
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