Cashless policy: Supreme Court consolidates states’ suit against FG

The Supreme Court on Wednesday in Abuja consolidated various suits instituted by 10 states against the Federal Government, challenging the mode of implementation of the newly introduced Cashless Policy regime.

The apex court, however, shut out Abia State from joining on the ground of coming late with its originating summons.

A motion for the consolidation was argued by Emmanuel Ukala, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, who is representing Rivers State in the fierce legal battle.

Ukala, while moving the motion on notice, premised the consolidation request on the need for the suit to be heard without any hindrance since the matter bothered on the same issue.

In a brief ruling, Justice John Inyang Okoro, who is leading a 7-man panel of Justices of the Court, granted the request and ordered the consolidation of the ten suits into one.

All efforts by the Abia State Government to be joined in the suit were rebuffed, and it was ordered to present its case at a later date.

The 10 states are slugging it out with the Federal Government in the battle against implementing the Cashless Policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.