The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a ₦1 billion lawsuit filed against former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele, over the naira redesign strategy they implemented in 2023.
Mr Uthman Isa Tochukwu, a legal practitioner, had approached the court, stating that the policy had caused him a series of troubles.
He claimed that the policy forcibly violated his fundamental rights to free movement and personal dignity.
The plaintiff specifically stated in court that his travel was restricted during the period when the policy was implemented by the former President Buhari-led administration and that his money in two commercial banks could not be accessed between January and March 2023.
Aside from requesting that the court award him ₦1 billion in damages for the defendants’ violation of his fundamental rights, the plaintiff also sought a perpetual injunction to prevent the federal government from withholding the old ₦200, ₦500, and ₦1000 denominations.
Also, he urged the court to order Emefiele and Buhari to issue a public apology, which would be published in two prominent newspapers in the country.
The court determined that the plaintiff had abandoned the lawsuit after his repeated absence without legal representation or explanation.
Mr Chikelue Amasiani, counsel for the third and fourth defendants (Emefiele and CBN), notified the court of the plaintiff’s absence after the case was called up.
Amasiani said that since the complaint was filed in 2023, both the plaintiff and his lawyer had failed to demonstrate any commitment to prosecuting the matter.
As a result, he requested that the court stop further proceedings in the action, which Justice Ekwo granted.
