Naira: NBA warns Buhari against disregarding Supreme Court judgment

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has warned President Muhammadu Buhari  on the implications of his administration’s non-compliance with the judgment of the Supreme Court on the naira swap policy.

To avoid the damage this could do to the Judiciary, the NBA on Monday advised the President to immediately direct compliance with the terms of the order by the apex court in its judgement delivered on March 3 in respect of the naira redesign policy.

The NBA’s position is contained in a statement on Monday by its President, Yakubu Maikyau (SAN).

The statement read in part, “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.

“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.”