Abuja – April 29, 2025
The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a ₦1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit filed against former President Muhammadu Buhari, former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, the CBN, and others over the controversial 2023 Naira redesign policy.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, who presided over the matter, dismissed the case on Monday, citing the plaintiff’s failure to diligently prosecute the suit. The plaintiff, Uthman Isa Tochukwu, an Abuja-based legal practitioner, was absent during the proceedings and had no legal representation or explanation for his continued absence.
“This court is convinced that the plaintiff has deliberately abandoned his own case,” Justice Ekwo ruled, striking out the matter for lack of diligent prosecution.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/418/2023, was filed in 2023. Tochukwu had claimed that the Naira redesign policy implemented during Buhari’s administration, under the supervision of then-CBN Governor Emefiele, caused him severe personal hardship. He alleged that his rights to freedom of movement and dignity were violated, as he was unable to access funds in his bank accounts during the January–March 2023 currency crisis.
The plaintiff sought ₦1 billion in damages and asked the court for a perpetual injunction restraining the federal government and CBN from withholding the old ₦200, ₦500, and ₦1000 notes. He also demanded a public apology from the defendants, to be published in two national newspapers.
However, counsel for Emefiele and the CBN, Mr. Chikelue Amasiani, informed the court of the plaintiff’s consistent absence and lack of seriousness in pursuing the case. He urged the court to strike out the matter, noting that the plaintiff had not taken any concrete steps since the case was filed.
Justice Ekwo granted the application and struck out the case, adding that the plaintiff was free to revive the suit in the future if he demonstrates readiness to proceed.
