Cashless policy: Drama in Supreme Court as Edo, Bayelsa join FG against Kaduna, Zamfara, others

 Drama broke out in the Supreme Court on Wednesday when the states of Edo and Bayelsa joined the federal government in a lawsuit brought by other states against the federal government over the implementation of the Central Bank of Nigeria's (CBN) cashless policy.

Edo, represented by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, told a panel of seven Justices of the Apex Court that it was in support of the Cashless Policy Regime and sought to be joined as respondent.

Bayelsa State followed suit when through its counsel, Mr Damian Dodo, SAN, it announced support for the Federal Government and applied to be joined as respondent in the matter.

However, six other states, Lagos, Cross River, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo and Sokoto joined their counterparts, Kaduna, Kogi, and Zamfara in the legal battle against the Federal Government.

The six States in their respective motions for joinder pitched their tents with the three aggrieved States that initially ignited the legal battle.

Their joinder motion was moved by Mr Samuel Ologunorisa, SAN, and was granted by Justice John Okoro who presided over the matter.

The Court directed the plaintiffs to amend their originating summons to reflect the name of the six fresh plaintiffs.

In the same vein, Bayelsa and Edo, through Mr Damian Dodo, SAN, moved their application for joinder as respondents and was granted by Justice John Okoro following no objection on the issue.

Justice Okoro also directed the Federal Government, Edo and Bayelsa to amend their statements of defense to reflect the new position of the case.

Following agreement between the parties, the hearing in the lawsuit has been rescheduled for Wednesday, February 22.

In a different story, River State has brought a claim against the federal government about the same issue.

Rivers refuses to work with other States through its attorney, Mr. Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, and added that it would prefer to handle its matter alone.