A Federal High Court Sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State, on Tuesday, dismissed a suit filed by human rights lawyer, Malcolm Omirhobho, challenging the Arabic inscription on the Nigeria notes.
Justice Yellim Bogoro, while delivering judgment in the suit, relying on the case of Chief Gani Fawehimi V . Akilu (1998) 2NWLR (Part 102 ), 122 at 169, held that although the plaintiff has the locus standi to institute the action, he failed to prove how the first defendant’s (Central Bank of Nigeria) design, issue, print and distribution of the naira notes with Arabic inscriptions is done in bad faith.
The court held that Nigeria is a secular state, and no religion is superior to the other.
The court further held that Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and religious country, and no ethnic group or religion is superior to the other.
In a statement shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Omirhobo stated that the court, however, noted that Nigeria is a secular state and that no religion is superior to the other.
According to him, the court stated that Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and religious country and that no ethnic group or religion is superior to the other.
He said, “The court noted that Arabic language is not Nigeria’s official language and advised that for Nigerians to coexist in harmony, it is high time for the Central Bank of Nigeria and 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.”
Earlier, Prof. Ishaq Akintola-led Muslim Rights Concern had asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to dismiss the suit.
MURIC and Akintola filed a counter-affidavit to the suit after the court granted their permission to be listed as defendants alongside the CBN, the Federal Government, the President and the Attorney General of the Federation, who were the original defendants in the suit.
Omirhobo, who filed the suit before Justice Mohammed Liman, contended that having Arabic inscriptions on the naira notes portrays Nigeria as an Islamic state, contrary to the country’s constitutional status of a secular state.
