Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Kaduna State Government has filed a contempt of court suit against the Federal Government.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Abdulhakeem Mustapha, representing Kaduna State in the suit filed against the Federal Government at the Supreme Court by Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara States, filed the contempt suit, on Wednesday.
While moving his motion before a seven-man panel led by Justice John Okoro, Mustapha drew the panel’s attention to the Federal Government’s failure to comply with the order suspending the implementation of February 10 deadline for the use of old naira notes.
However, Kanu Agabi (SAN), who represents the Federal Government objected, arguing that the claim is based on “rumours out there.”
The panel said the issue cannot be attended to immediately until all the processes are filed and served.
But Mustapha insisted that the Federal Government is acting in executive recklessness by going ahead to ignore the order.
He, therefore, insisted that the extension should subsist.
In its response, the panel advised that the processes be filed and served on Friday and replies should be given on Monday to enable the hearing to take place on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN) sought to move a separate application on behalf of the Rivers State Government.
Similarly, counsel to the Kano State Government, Sunusi Musa (SAN), sought to move a separate motion challenging the powers of the Federal Government to unilaterally impose the currency policy on citizens of the state without the approval of the FEC and Council of State.
But Justice Okoro advised both Rivers and Kano to consolidate their suits with the other already existing suits.
The panel fixed hearing of all the suits to Wednesday, February 22.
