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Court Dismisses Suit Challenging Arabic Inscriptions on Naira Notes |
On Tuesday, the Federal High Court in Lagos dismissed a lawsuit challenging the use of Arabic inscriptions on Naira notes.
Justice Yellin Bogoro ruled 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 emphasized that bad faith must be established before challenging the actions of the Federal Government or the apex bank.
The court found that the suit, filed by Lagos-based lawyer Malcom Omirhobo, did not prove that the CBN acted in bad faith regarding the Arabic inscriptions on Naira notes.
Omirhobo had filed the suit against the CBN in January 2020, arguing that Arabic is not one of Nigeria's four official languages—English, Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo. He claimed that Arabic is not indigenous to Nigeria and that its presence on the currency violates certain constitutional provisions.
In response, the CBN filed a preliminary objection, asserting that Omirhobo lacked the legal standing to bring the case. The bank also submitted a defense.
Three other parties joined the suit as defendants: the Incorporated Trustees of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), its Founder Ishaq Akintola, and Kebbi-based legal practitioner Umar Kalgo.
After hearing from all parties in May 2024, the court scheduled its judgment for Tuesday.
Justice Bogoro first dismissed the CBN’s preliminary objection, affirming that Omirhobo had the standing to file the suit as a taxpayer. The court also stressed the importance of encouraging public interest actions.
However, the court ultimately ruled that Omirhobo failed to prove that the CBN acted in bad faith and dismissed the suit.
Reacting to the judgment, Omirhobo stated that he had requested a Certified True Copy of the judgment and would review it to determine his next steps. He noted that the court recognized Nigeria as a secular state where no religion or ethnic group is superior to another. He also mentioned that the court suggested it might be time for the CBN and the Federal Government to remove Arabic inscriptions from higher denomination notes, as they have been removed from lower denominations.
MURIC hailed the judgment as significant and educational. In a statement, Akintola said, “This is a sweet victory. Once again, the Nigerian judiciary has demonstrated courage, intellectual excellence, and jurisprudential precision. This judgment is far-reaching, profound, and monumental. Omirhobo’s approach is not only naïve but also simplistic. This suit against Arabic on Naira notes shows a lack of religious tolerance. We have been vindicated.”
