Court strikes out suit challenging Arabic inscriptions on naira notes
By Jeffrey Agbo
Justice Yellin Bogoro of a Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday struck out a suit challenging the use of Arabic inscriptions on naira notes.
The suit was filed by a Lagos-based lawyer, Malcom Omirhobo.
According to Justice Bogoro, Section 53 (1) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) empowers the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to print, design and issue the currency and compels the need to establish bad faith before an action can be brought to challenge the act or omission of the Federal Government or the apex court.
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Omirhobo filed the suit against the CBN in January 2020 contending amongst other things that Arabic is not one of the four official languages of Nigeria namely English, Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo. He contended that Arabic is not indigenous to Nigeria and to have it on the country’s currency offends certain provisions of the Constitution.
The CBN, in its response, filed a preliminary objection insisting that Omirhobo had no locus standi to file the matter. The bank also filed a defence.
Three other interested persons joined the suits as defendants, the Incorporated Trustees of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), its Founder, Ishaq Akintola; and a Kebbi-based legal practitioner, Umar Kalgo.
First, Justice Bogoro dismissed the CBN’s preliminary objection and held that Omirhobo had the locus standi to institute the action being a taxpayer. The court also held that public interest actions must be encouraged.
The court, however, held that Omirhobo failed to prove that the CBN acted in bad faith.