The Rule of Law Advocacy and Accountability Centre has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to take action against the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, for disobeying the Supreme Court’s directives.
Okechukwu Nwanguma, the executive director of RULAAC, signed a statement on Tuesday in which the organization stated that it was not convinced by the president’s spokespersons’ claim that Buhari had not ordered the federation’s attorney general or the central bank governor to disregard the Supreme Court’s ruling.
According to Nwanguma, because Malami and Emefiele were both accountable to the President, it did not make sense for the president’s spokespersons to offer an explanation on their behalf.
Remember that the previous N200, N500, and N1000 notes were ordered to remain lawful tender until December 31, 2023, by the Supreme Court on March 3, 2023. The court held that the president’s directive on February 16 that invalidated the N500 and N1,000 notes—except for N200 notes which he said were valid until April 10—was invalid as it was issued “without due consultation.”
But, RULAAC pointed out that the AGF and the CBN governor were public figures and therefore the president was ultimately responsible. They further stated that in prior court judgements that regularly ordered the release of Omoyele Sowore, El-Zakzaky, and Nnamdi Kanu, Buhari had failed to set a good example.
Part of the statement reads, “It does not make sense for President Buhari’s spokesperson to make excuses for the President, saying he did not direct the Central Bank Governor or the Attorney General of the Federation to disobey Court Orders.
“Ultimately, the buck stops on the President’s table and what Nigerians want to hear, is what the President has done to call to order, lawless officials of his government under his supervision when they act wrongfully. This is the only way to demonstrate that he does not endorse lawlessness.
“Above all, the President needs to lead by example by demonstrating that he has respect for, and is subject to the rule of law, and that he stands against disobedience to court orders. We didn’t see the President demonstrate this when the courts gave repeated orders for the release of Omoyele Sowore, Dasuki, El Zak-zakay, and Nnamdi Kanu.
“In the case of Nnamdi Kanu who remains in illegal detention in contemptuous disregard of the multiple orders of the Appeal Court, the orders of international courts have also been ignored.
“Let Buhari demonstrate to Nigerians that he stands against disobedience to court orders and that he respects the rule of law by taking actions against the Attorney-General and the CBN governor and by complying with subsisting court orders to release Nnamdi Kanu.”
