Another round of protests have broken out in several states across the country, including Oyo, Delta, and Edo, over the scarcity of the new N200, N500, N1,000 notes and rejection of the old naira bills. This comes less than two weeks after residents of Ibadan, Oyo State took to the streets in protest against the hardship triggered by the naira notes swap and fuel price hike. Violent demonstrations were held on Wednesday in Ibadan and Udu, near Warri, the commercial hub of Delta State. The protests were in reaction to banks nationwide refusing the old currency in line with a position taken by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), although the Supreme Court had ruled that the apex bank’s February 10 deadline be suspended temporarily. The position has since led to a standoff between the CBN and the governors of various states, including Kano and Ogun. Ibadan There were demonstrations in different parts of Ibadan, such as Mokola, resulting in a gridlock along Eleyele/Eruwa road. Cars were turned back at some point while some schoolchildren were forced to return home as a result of the protest. Commercial activities were grounded as the Mokola Road was turned into a football field. Most major roads were deserted as many residents resorted to trekking long distances. Ibadan There were demonstrations in different parts of Ibadan, such as Mokola, resulting in a gridlock along Eleyele/Eruwa road. Cars were turned back at some point while some schoolchildren were forced to return home as a result of the protest. Commercial activities were grounded as the Mokola Road was turned into a football field. Most major roads were deserted as many residents resorted to trekking long distances. Delta In Delta, the ongoing rampage blocked the major highway with bonfires and other objects at their disposal, destroying automated teller machines (ATMs) belonging to some banks in the area. Angry youths protested the scarcity of the new redesigned naira notes and the rejection of the old notes by people. The demonstrations first broke out at Orhuwhorun junction before spreading to the expressway. Part of the buildings of banks were vandalised by the mob who hurled stones and other objects at the premises, priompting bank workers and their customers to scamper for safety. Meanwhile, the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa has appealed for calm and patience. Okowa’s appeal was contained in a statement by the state Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu. He called on the people to remain calm while also appealing to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the monetary authorities to take further steps in increasing the money supply in the system. “We appeal to our brothers and sisters across the state to keep calm in spite of the current travails they are going through as a result of the scarcity of naira notes in the country,” the statement read in part. “As a government, we are not unaware of your sufferings but we appeal to you to be patient with the monetary authorities as they take steps to improve the money supply in the country. “We are very much aware of your pains and concerns, but burning down a bank that employs our people will not augur well for us as a nation even as it will not also solve the problem but will further compound the situation. “Once again, we appeal to you all to sheath your swords while we continue to engage the cbn to ensure more funds are released to the banks in the country.” The governor’s appeal comes on the heels of protests by some citizens of the state at Orhuwhorun community in Udu Local Government Area (LGA) of the state where a bank’s ATM gallery was reportedly torched. Edo Chaos broke out across various banks on Akpakpava road in Benin City, the Edo State capital, following what some eyewitnesses described as an inability to access cash at the banks. Bonfires were started by angry residents along the road. Some of the angry residents claimed that shootings led to the death of some persons who had visited the banks for cash withdrawals. ‘No Arrests’ The Oyo State Police Command said protests broke out in some parts of Ibadan, the state capital, early Wednesday, but were soon brought under control. “There were pockets of protest this morning by some aggrieved bank customers,” spokesman Adewale Osifeso told AFP. He said police were deployed to restore order but no arrests were made. “Normalcy has since returned as the Command has taken all necessary action to forestall breakdown of law and order.” Local residents said the unrest started at Dupe, Mokola, Ogunpa, Apata and Iwo Road areas when angry bank customers began protesting because they could not access their money or change old notes to new ones. “Major roads were blocked while banks, shops and other businesses were shut,” local journalist Remi Feyisipo told AFP. He said the protesters were also angry because traders, petrol stations and transporters were rejecting the old notes for transactions. “The protesters made bonfires of used tyres… to disrupt traffic and movements.” Naira Swap Suit The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Wednesday adjourned the case on the naira swap policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) till February 22 for hearing of the consolidated suits by 10 states. The court joined Katsina, Lagos, Cross Rivers, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, and Sokoto States as co-plaintiffs in the suit challenging the Naira Redesign policy of the Federal Government. Similarly, the apex court joined Edo and Bayelsa states in support of the Federal Government on implementation of the naira swap policy. The six states in their respective motions for joinder pitched their tents with the three aggrieved states, Kaduna, Zamfara, and Kogi states that initially ignited the suit.

  Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has said the cash swap policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is affecting the rating of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) nationwide. The Governor therefore appealed President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the CBN to reverse the policy. Governor Akeredolu said problems created by the naira and fuel scarcities have affected the ratings of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) nationwide. The Ondo Governor, who spoke in Akure while receiving members of the Youth Directorate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) led by Seyi Tinubu, advised the new and old notes should be allowed to co-exist. Akeredolu noted that the old notes seem to have ceased to be legal tender in the country despite an existing court injunction, Akeredolu, who faulted the timing of the policy, said it was ill-timed and must be reversed. According to him: ”We have a problem we are facing in this country today. Our rating as a party is not that favorable. Let’s not deceive ourselves. Must it be now that we will have this financial policy? “How? Fuel and everything? Things are not easy. This policy is not right at this time. It should be reversed. Reserve it and tell CBN that we are reversing it. Let old and new notes co-exist. “Okada, taxis , banks are not taking old notes again. There is an injunction and everyone is behaving like there is no injunction. We have said that this man (CBN Governor) should be removed when he contested to be President. The man is not fit for that position. A man who attempted to be President will frustrate us at this time.” Akeredolu also hailed Seyi Tinubu and his team for embarking on rigorous campaign for the success of the party. He said the youths would determine the outcome of next week’s Presidential election. “Your demographic shows that you occupy a larger percentage. You are the ones that will talk to yourself.” He said. “We didn’t waver when we said that the Presidency must come to the South. And when it got to the south, we didn’t waver when we said competence and track record are important. Our choice of Asiwaju was premised on informed decision not because we are from the same tribe,” Akeredolu said.

  The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed its readiness to conduct credible, free and fair election on Feb. 25 in Imo, in spite of the violence in the state. The state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Sylvia Agu, gave the assurance on Wednesday at a news conference to announce the commission’s preparedness for the election. Agu said that about 2.4 million registered voters in Imo were eligible to vote during the election. “As at the close of work on Feb. 3, about 375,004 Permanent Voter Cards (PVC), comprising 206,463 old cards, 116,734 new cards and 51,807 reprints have been collected,” she said. Agu said that over 4,500 people who filled forms on issues relating to PVCs had been attended to. The REC assured that the commission had made adequate arrangements to carry out voting in volatile areas of the state, particularly in Okigwe and Orsu Local Government Areas. She noted, however, that election would not hold in 38 polling units in the state where the commission recorded zero registration. Agu said that zero registration were recorded in Aboh Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise, Ezinihite Mbaise, Ideato North, Isiala Mbano, Isu, Njaba, Ohaji/Egbema, Orlu, Oru East, Owerri Municipal and Owerri North Local Government Areas. “On level of preparedness, INEC in Imo State is fully ready for the elections. “All non-sensitive materials have been received and distributed to various Local Government Areas. “Diverse trainings have been concluded and the training of presiding officers and assistant presiding officers is still on-going. “The next set of trainees will focus on registration areas, technical collation officers.” Agu said that after the training, the commission would recruit a reasonable number of ad hoc staff for the elections. Recalls that INEC had suffered up to four attacks on its facilities since 2022 in Imo, resulting to the death of some staff of the commission. The commission has however, restated its determination to conduct the elections, in spite of the attacks.

  A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, dismissed a suit seeking to stop the forthcoming general elections over the exclusion of eligible Nigerians living abroad. Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment, held that the existing law in the country did not guarantee the right of Nigerians in the Diaspora to vote in any election, hence, the suit lacked merit. Justice Ekwo said that where a right was not provided for in the constitution, there was no need to enforce that law. According to him, where there is no law on an issue, there is no issue of the question of law on it.   He said it was the duty of those affected by the issue to engage the legislature do that law is enacted to resolve their issue. “The court does not enact laws. It cannot also expand the law in order to accommodate an issue before it no matter how sympathetic or humanitarian the cause or situation is. “It only interprets and expounds the laws, and, it is the law as stated before in this judgment, that when interpreting the provisions of a statute, the court must not ascribe meanings to clear, plain and unambiguous provisions in order to make such provisions conform to the court’s view of their meanings or what they ought to be,” he said. The judge said by the provisions of Sections 77 (2) and 117 (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), “the right to vote is reserved for every citizen of Nigeria, who has attained the age of 18 years residing in Nigeria at the time of registration of voters for the purpose of election to a legislative house, shall be entitled to be registered as a voter for that election. “The right to vote for a president or governor is tied to the right to vote in an election of any legislative house, going by the provisions of Sections 132 (5) and 178 (5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended),” he said. Justice Ekwo further said that though the applicants were praying the court to declare that Nigerians in the diaspora were entitled to vote in the forthcoming elections, he said it was the phrase “residing in Nigeria” in the provisions of the constitution that had challenged and indeed, removed the foundation of their case. Besides, he observed that their application was only filed on Nov. 9, 2022, at the eleventh hour of the general elections. “The applicants can only be commended for bringing this matter to the fore. “However, the court is not where the solution lies for now. “What this case has revealed is that there is a lacuna in the existing law with respect to the right of Nigerians in the diaspora to vote in elections in Nigeria. “The lacuna here is not such that the court can fill by pronouncement or by importing statutory provisions from anywhere. “There is a situation whose solution is by legislative and not judicial process,” he said. Justice Ekwo, consequently, dismissed the suit for lacking in merit. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigerians of voting age living in the diaspora had filed the suit to enforce their fundamental rights to vote in the 2023 general elections. NAN reports that two plaintiffs: Mr Chikwe Nkemnacho and Mr Kenneth Azubuike Nkemnacho, on behalf of Nigerians in the Diaspora, had filed the suit. In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2119/2022 dated Oct. 31 and filed Nov. 9 by their lawyer, Augustine Temfeh-Nkemnacho, the plaintiffs sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu. Also joined in the suit were President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Republic of Nigeria as 1st to 4th respondents respectively. The plaintiffs were asking the court to stop INEC from proceeding further with the 2023 electioneering process until the commission’s voter register and bio-database were updated to accommodate them as registered voters. They prayed the court to declare that they were entitled to participate in the electoral process by being registered to vote in 2023 and in all elections wherever they were domiciled worldwide in line with Sections 13, 14, 42 and 17 of the 1999 Constitution. They also sought another declaration by the court to the effect that there is still sufficient time for INEC to comply with provisions of Sections 13, 14 and 15 of the 1999 Constitution. The plaintiffs canvassed that unless they were allowed to vote in the 2023 elections and subsequent ones, their fundamental rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution would be grossly violated.

  The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Tuesday, arrested a 38-year-old indigene of Kano, one Salman Umar Hudu, for falsely representing himself as the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, and other officers of the commission. Hudu was traced to and arrested at a hotel in Abuja. The suspect is said to have also obtained N100,000 from a person he convinced that he can ‘handle’ any matter with the EFCC. According to an EFCC statement on Wednesday, the suspect has given useful information and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of the investigation.

  Some retired police officers have called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr Usman Baba, to obey the judgement of the National Industrial Court, which ordered the Force to reinstate them into the force, saying the IGP was employing double standards in the implementation of the judgement. The aggrieved ex-cops, who were members of Course 33, 34 and 35 of the Police Academy, were said to have been forcefully retired from the police service when they had not spent 35 years in service or attained 60 years of age. They challenged the action of the police at the industrial court and got a favourable judgement in April 2022 but the defendants — the IGP, the Police Service Commission and the Secretary of the Police Force — have allegedly refused to enforce the judgement. The retired officers later sought a committal order from the court to send the IGP to prison for disobeying the court. But the Force has described the call for the imprisonment of the IGP, by the retired officers, as baseless and mischievous. A statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Muyiwa Adejobi, said, “the purported call for their (retired officers) reinstatement is strange to the law and unrealistic, ” adding that the NPF had filed a motion for a stay of execution at the court while the appeal is slated for hearing at the court’s convenience.” In a statement issued by the retired officers, signed by one of them, Emmanuel Idris, on Wednesday, the concerned ex-policemen alleged that the IGP was playing double standard, saying the NPF has implemented the judgement for some officers who had a similar case because the affected persons were loyalists of the IGP. The statement was titled ‘RE: Non-implementation of court judgement in suit no. NICN/ABJ/281/2021, dated April 19, 2022, by the Inspector General of Police.’ It reads, “We, the retired police officers, reported that the IGP Baba Usman has inexplicably refused to implement the court judgement from a court of competent jurisdiction, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/281/2021, dated April 19, 2022, which was delivered in our favour. We were members of the Cadet Inspectors Force Entrants courses 33 (1994), 34 (1996) and 35 (2000). “It was further noted that we went to National Industrial Court of Nigeria when the police authority refused to regularise our date of appointments like our cadet ASPs counterparts who also got similar court judgement in their favour which the IGP immediately implemented last year through signal dated 24/5/2021 for cadet ASPs courses 18 (1994), 19 (1996) and 20 (2000) because it benefited his (IGP) cronies among whom is now a commissioner in one of the state commands. “Others are now DCPs and ACPs, some of whom ought to have retired in 2021. However, we, their cadet Inspectors counterparts of courses 33 (1994), 34(1996) and 35 (2000), were trained together at the same institution and at the same period, the police authority refused to implement our judgement that was delivered and served since April 2022. “The Police Service Commission sensing the futility in appealing the case or the implications of disobeying court order has twice directed the IGP to implement the court judgement but the latter has refused despite advice from some authorities of the police force for the implementation of the judgement. “This is not only prejudicial but pure double standard as it is said that what is sauce for the geese should be sauce for the gander. Similarly, in the affidavit recently filed by the IGP, he averred that it was we the officers, when we were in the force that failed to report for documentation and implementation of the court judgement, and in actual sense, there was no communication of any kind either through signal or letters to us in the force. “The IGP should do the needful by inviting us for documentation instead of dissipating energy and time on further prolongation of the matter. “Suffice to say that if the Nigeria Police Force who is a leading agency in enforcement of orders can refuse to implement such an important judgement from a court of competent jurisdiction, then who else is expected to enforce court orders? We concerned officers perceived this act as discriminatory in nature which is absolutely absurd and contrary to the principles of justice, fairness and equity.”

  Three people died on Wednesday in Benin, Edo State after a protest at the entrance of the state branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria turned violent. Residents who were still in possession of the old notes had stormed the CBN office early in the morning to collect the form to enable them to deposit their money as directed by the CBN. While they were waiting to be attended to, a Hilux truck, with some officials, which was trying to make its way into the bank premises was prevented from gaining access to the bank by the residents. However, the situation turned violent as some of them (the residents) attacked the vehicle and the vehicle went back while the police at the entrance of the bank calmed the situation. Two people were feared to have died in the ensuing melee. This led to the angry protesters attacking virtually all the banks along the Akpkakpkava destroying their ATM points and buildings. Some of the banks affected are Sterling Bank, UBA, GTB, Access, Zenith, Stanbic IBTC and others. The violence degenerated into a full-fledged protest as the enraged residents took over the Ring Road (city centre) throwing stones at anything in sight. At Upper Sakponba, the protesters attacked the United Bank for Africa, destroying a part of the bank as staff scampered for safety. One middle-aged man died in that area. The Third Junction was also blocked as motorists and a batch of police officers were prevented from entering Upper Sakponba and gaining access into the MM way. To restore peace and order in the metropolis, soldiers and policemen were dispatched to the affected area and prisons to prevent jailbreaks. Also, members of the Edo State Security network also dismantled the roadblocks set up by angry residents in a different part of the city. Vigilantes also joined the security personnel to patrol the streets.

  The Supreme Court on Wednesday affirmed the validity of the use of old 200, 500 and 1000 naira notes. The apex court maintained that the February 8 hearing which paused the implementation of the February 10 deadline ban on the use of old naira notes still subsists. The clarification from the court followed a complaint by Abdulhakeem Mustapha (SAN), lawyer to the Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara states respectively. The PUNCH reports that a seven-man panel of the Supreme Court last Wednesday in a unanimous ruling granted an interim injunction restraining the Federal Government from implementing the Central Bank of Nigeria’s February 10 deadline for the swapping of the old naira notes with the new ones. The judgement followed a motion ex-parte on behalf of three northern states Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara, who on February 3rd filed a suit seeking to halt the implementation of the CBN’s policy. On Wednesday (today), the apex court adjourned a hearing in the suit banning the use of the old naira to Wednesday, 22nd February 2023. This is coming after nine joined the suit initially filed by Kogi, Kaduna and Zamfara states. The states are Katsina, Lagos, Cross River, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo and Sokoto states bringing the new total of plaintiffs to ten. On the other hand, Edo and Bayelsa have filed to be joined as respondents.

  The Supreme Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday adjourned a hearing in the suit banning the use of the old naira to Wednesday, 22nd February 2023. The three states filed the suit against the Federal Government seeking a restraining order to stop the full implementation of the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria. In a new development, nine states have filed to join the suit initially filed by Kogi, Kaduna and Zamfara states. The states are Katsina, Lagos, Cross River, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo and Sokoto states bringing the new total of plaintiffs to ten. On the other hand, Edo and Bayelsa have filed to be joined as respondents. The seven-man panel led by Justice John Okoro ordered them to amend their processes to be heard as one. Meanwhile, pending hearing, the old order to suspend the ban of the now older 200, 500 and 1000 naira notes subsist. The PUNCH reports that a seven-man panel of the Supreme Court last Wednesday in a unanimous ruling granted an interim injunction restraining the Federal Government from implementing the CBN’s February 10 deadline for the swapping of the old naira notes with the new ones. The judgement followed a motion ex-parte on behalf of three northern states Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara, who on February 3rd filed a suit seeking to halt the implementation of the CBN’s policy. On February 8, 2022, The PUNCH reports that Federal High Court in Abuja stopped the President, Major General Muhammadu Buahri (retd.), alongside the CBN and commercial banks from interfering, suspending or extending the terminal date of February 10 for the expiration of the old naira notes. Before Wednesday’s hearing, The PUNCH reports that the Presidency said that neither the government nor the CBN had taken a stand on the continued use of the old N200, N500 and N1,000 notes as legal tenders seeing that the case was still pending before the Supreme Court. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said the FG would make its position on the new naira policy known after the determination of the suit on Wednesday. In a response to our correspondent on Tuesday, he said “Following series of enquiries, we wish to state that it is not true that the FG or the CBN has taken a pre-emptive action on the legality of currency as a legal tender in view of the pendency of the case before the Supreme Court. “We wish to state that it is not true that the Federal Government or the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN have taken a preemptive action on the legality of currency as a legal tender in view of the pendency of the case before the Supreme Court. “The position of the government and the CBN will be made known upon the determination of the suit coming up tomorrow.”

  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday summoned the Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Leena Pylvanainen, over “hate speech and incitive comments” by a Nigerian-Finnish lawyer and Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa. The Ekpa-led faction of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra had reportedly declared that elections will not be allowed to hold in the South-East and had ordered sit-at-home during elections. At the meeting with Pylvanainen, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, said Ekpa’s action was fast becoming a threat to the forthcoming election, and that the Federal Government would not take it lightly with him and the Finland government if nothing drastic is done.   The minister, who was represented by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada, noted that Ekpa is living in the comfort of his home in Finland and dishing out dangerous orders to his followers not to allow elections to hold in South-Eastern Nigeria. Dada explained “We thought it was important for us to have this chat with you to let you know that, of course, he is living in the comfort of his home there in Finland and we know that we have been in touch with your good self. “We have had some time to ensure that we arrest this situation but it appears the situation is getting out of hand. And we are saying enough is enough. We should let you know, in very strong terms that it is high time you really back Nigeria with the quest that something is done immediately because he threatens the forthcoming elections. “The sad thing is that this gentleman has a lot of followers out there. And the moment he issues these instructions, what happens is that you have destructions the very next day. They embark on killings and burning and you name it. And we believe this is not acceptable.   “It’s important to get to know that these elections are being threatened by the actions of someone and that something needs to be done immediately, to address the situation. This in essence is why we thought it was important for us to have this discussion with you, so as to let you know our concerns and the displeasure of the Government of Nigeria and the people of Nigeria on this very unhealthy development.” Responding, Pylvanainen said that while they are watching to see how this fits into the legal framework of Finland, the personality in question is a double citizen and there is a need to take his rights into consideration. “This is something I want to make very, very clear. Finland condemns all violence and incitement to violence in all its forms. Political aims, of course, should be pursued through political means only. That is very clear. “It stems from the fundamentals of our actions, it’s enshrined in our constitution, and we do really underline our support and the importance we see for these elections not only for Nigeria but for the entire region. So we’re with you very much on that. “We share very much the concerns regarding the security situation in the South-East. Yes, there are problems in other parts of the country as well. But this is an issue that we are directly concerned with. This is an issue we have been discussing, we share the concerns. We have discussed the matter and as I mentioned, our law enforcement agencies are in touch and are cooperating.” “Also, he’s a double citizen as far as I know of Nigeria and Finland, and he’s therefore as you rightly said, protected and safe and sound in his home in Finland. But we have to take his rights into consideration as well. So everything has to obviously be done according to Finnish legislation, which has very strong protections for freedom of speech.”