The Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed a case against the use of Arabic writing on Naira notes.
Judge Yellin Bogoro stated that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has the legal right to design and issue currency.
The judge also noted that to challenge the government’s actions, there must be proof of bad intentions, which was not shown in this case.
The case was brought by a lawyer named Malcom Omirhobo.
He argued that Arabic is not one of Nigeria’s official languages and should not be on the currency.
The CBN responded, saying Omirhobo did not have the right to bring the case.
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Other parties, including the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) and its founder, joined as defendants.
In May 2024, the court heard all arguments and scheduled the judgment for today.
Judge Bogoro ruled that Omirhobo had the right to bring the case as a taxpayer but failed to prove bad faith on the part of the CBN. As a result, the case was dismissed.
Omirhobo said he would review the judgment to decide his next steps.
He noted that the court recognized Nigeria as a secular and multi-ethnic country where no religion or ethnic group is superior to others.
He also mentioned that the court suggested the possibility of removing Arabic from some Naira notes for better harmony among Nigerians.
