Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately direct compliance with the terms of the order by the Supreme Court in its judgement delivered on March 3rd, 2023 in respect of the naira redesign policy.
Gatekeepers News reports that NBA President, Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), stated this in a statement he personally signed on Monday.
Yakubu, while noting that “the Supreme Court has issued directives to the Federal Government for the benefit of the people and there is no option other than to comply. The President is under constitutional obligation to comply and enforce the decision of the Supreme Court.”
He referred to Section 287 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) provides that:
“The decisions of the Supreme Court shall be enforced in any part of the Federation by all authorities and persons, and by Court with subordinate jurisdiction to that of the Supreme Court.”
The NBA president said: “Nigerians may not be too enchanted with our Judiciary, and this may have arisen from unsubstantiated and spurious allegations of judicial misconduct, the fact however remains that we still must look to the Judiciary as the only and final resort, to protect our rights as a people and secure probity in public life.”
He noted that: “The Supreme Court has spoken for the people of this nation and has appropriately issued orders to the Executive and the orders of the court must be complied with.
“We cannot under any guise or pretence accept or tolerate any appearance of autocracy or dictatorship.
“Our system of democratic governance has come to stay, it must not only be respected by all and sundry but must also be jealously guarded and protected.
“This is the greatest test or challenge to our constitutional democracy and the Executive cannot afford to disregard the orders of the Supreme Court made for the benefit of the people that elected it to power.
“I therefore on behalf of all Nigerians, call on the President to immediately direct compliance with the terms of the orders made by the Supreme Court in its judgement delivered on 3 March 2023.”
