Court upholds use of Arabic inscriptions on naira notes

The Federal High Court in Lagos has on Tuesday upheld the use of Arabic inscriptions on Naira notes.

Justice Yellin Bogoro noted that Section 53 (1) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) grants the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) the authority to print, design, and issue currency.

The court emphasised the need to establish bad faith before challenging the actions of the Federal Government or the CBN.

The lawsuit, brought by Lagos-based lawyer Malcom Omirhobo in January 2020, argued that Arabic is not one of Nigeria’s official languages and therefore should not be featured on the currency.

However, the court ruled that Omirhobo did not demonstrate that the CBN had acted in bad faith when including Arabic inscriptions.

The CBN, in response to the suit, contended that Omirhobo lacked the standing to file the case and submitted a defense against the allegations.

READ ALSO: CBN against removal of Arabic inscriptions on naira notes

The court’s decision affirms the CBN’s authority in determining the design and content of Nigerian currency.

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.

After listening to all the defendants in May 2024, the court fixed its judgement for Tuesday.

First, Justice Bogoro dismissed the CBN’s preliminary objection and held that Omirhobo had the locus standi to institute the action of 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 Mala Fide, in bad faith and accordingly dismissed the suit.

In his reaction to the judgment, Omirhobo said he had applied for a Certified True Copy of the judgement and would study the same to decide his next line of action.

According to Omirhobo, the court also noted that Nigeria is a secular state and as such no religion is superior to the other. The lawyer also said the court noted that Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and religious country and that no ethnic group or religion is superior to the other.

The lawyer claimed that the court held that Arabic is not Nigeria’s official Language and advised that for Nigerians to coexist in harmony, perhaps it is time for the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Government to remove the Arabic inscription on the N200, N500 and N1000 naira notes since it has been removed from the N5, N10, N50 and N100.

Reacting to the judgement, MURIC described the judgement as far-reaching, profound, didactic and monumental.

Akintola, in a statement, said, “This is a sweet victory. Once again the Nigerian judiciary has demonstrated courage, intellectual excellence and jurisprudential exactitude. This judgement is far-reaching, profound, didactic and monumental.

“Omirhobo’s approach is not only naïve, it is pedestrian and kindergarten. This suit against Arabic on naira manifests acute desertification of religious tolerance… We have been vindicated.”

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