From Fred Itua, Abuja
Hundreds of aggrieved Nigerians converged in Abuja on Wednesday to protest the Supreme Court order temporarily halting the move by the Federal Government to ban the use of the old naira notes from February 10.
The protesters which grounded offices of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Attorney-General of the Federation, passed a vote of confidence on the Apex bank urging it not to back down.
Armed with placards with inscriptions such as ‘Justice Ariwoola resist plot to Use Our Supreme Court Undermine Democracy,’ accused the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ariwoola of working for All Progressive Congress presidential candidates, Bola Tinubu and G5 Governors’ interest.
They urged President Muhammadu Buhari to issue an executive order for the old notes not to be in circulation.
Meanwhile, a group known as the Civil Society Central Body has warned Nigerians not to accept the old naira notes in their own interest.
The group coordinator, Obed Agu who also led the protesters, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to issue an executive order terminating the policy deadline, saying that corrupt politicians seeking extension want to buy votes.
Agu said: “We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to issue an executive order for the policy to terminate the February 10th deadline and prevent further extension. The Supreme court wants to aid corrupt politicians buy votes.
“Supreme ex parte application has no legal basis. We are rejecting it because it is a plot to open the bank vaults to enable vote buyers and holders of illicit wealth to have cash to buy votes. We ask the CJN to hurriedly vacate the exparte order in the overall interest of the Nigeria election.
“We have suffered a lot in the hands of the Supreme Court in undermining any effort for a credible election. Supreme Court voided the card reader which aided and increased official election result rigging. The Supreme court declared a man who came 4th in the election as Governor of a State and that helped to destroy Imo State and the sanctity of the ballot. We won’t allow the CJN use the apex office to undermine our democracy and President Muhammadu Buhari’s promise of peaceful transition.”