Two governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Douye Diri and Godwin Obaseki of Bayelsa and Edo states respectively, have applied to be joined as respondents in the suit filed against the federal government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by some state governors.
Governors of Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara had earlier this month dragged the federal government before the Supreme Court seeking a restraining order against the implementation of the CBN’s Naira swap policy.
The apex court, last week, adjourned the matter to Wednesday February 15 for hearing.
At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, governments of Niger, Kano, Ondo and Ekiti, Cross River, Sokoto and Ogun applied to be joined in the suit as plaintiffs.
Lagos State, through its Attorney General, Moyosore Onigbanjo, also applied, seeking to be joined in the suit.
The states are arguing that the implementation of the policy has caused untold hardship for their people.
The federal government has also filed a preliminary objection to the suit, arguing that the supreme court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
The federal government also noted that the plaintiffs failed to join the CBN in the suit which has just the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) as the sole plaintiff.
In a surprise move at the court session which had many Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), lawyers and the governors of Kaduna and Kogi states, Nasir El-Rufai and Yahaya Bello, in attendance, Bayelsa state, led by Damian Dodo, and Edo state applied to be joined as respondents.
The PDP states told the Supreme Court that they were supporting the CBN.
In a ruling, the Supreme Court granted all the applications for joinder.
The court directed that the processes should be amended to reflect the states that have been joined as parties in the suit.
Shortly before adjourning the matter, Abdulhakeem Mustapha who represented Kaduna, Kogi, and Zamfara, prayed the court to make an order directing the federal government to implement a deadline on the old notes.
However, a seven-member panel of the apex court led by John Okoro, said the interim order of the court delivered on February 8 is still binding, pending when the substantive suit is heard.
“The interim order is pending the hearing on the motion on notice,” Okoro said.
