Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a N1billion suit instituted against former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele over the hardship that trailed the 2023 Naira redesign policy.
On Monday, Counsel for the 3rd and 4th defendants, Chikelue Amasiani urged the Court to strike out the case due to the plaintiff’s lack of representation.
The Judge in a ruling, struck out the suit on grounds of lack of diligent prosecution, stating that the plaintiff’s persistent absence in Court without legal representation and any explanation is deliberate.
The plaintiff, Uthman Tochukwu an Abuja based legal practitioner had filed a suit against the former President, Attorney General of the Federation, former Governor of the CBN, CBN and two commercial banks before the Court alleging that his fundamental rights to freedom of movement was breached during the hardship caused by the redesign of the Naira in January and March 2023, claiming his money in the two commercial banks could not be assessed.
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He prayed the Court to award N1 billion damages against the defendants for the breach of his fundamental rights.
The plaintiff also demanded an order of perpetual injunction against the defendants, restraining them from further withholding the old N200, N500 and N1000 denominations.
He also demanded that the Court compel the defendants to tender public apology to be published in two major Nigerian newspapers.
However, at Monday’s proceedings, both the plaintiff and his counsel were absent from Court, and in a brief ruling, Justice Ekwo struck out the suit.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
