The Federal High Court in Lagos dismissed a lawsuit on Tuesday that challenged the use of Arabic writing on Nigerian Naira notes.
The court ruled that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has the authority to design and issue currency, as per Section 53 (1) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA).
Justice Yellin Bogoro stated that the lawsuit, filed by Lagos-based lawyer Malcom Omirhobo, did not prove that the CBN acted in bad faith. Omirhobo argued that Arabic is not one of Nigeria’s official languages—English, Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo—and that using it on the currency violates the Constitution.
The CBN responded with a preliminary objection, claiming Omirhobo had no legal standing to file the suit. The bank, along with other defendants including the Incorporated Trustees of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), its Founder Ishaq Akintola, and legal practitioner Umar Kalgo, defended the use of Arabic writings.
Justice Bogoro dismissed the CBN’s preliminary objection, acknowledging Omirhobo’s right to file the suit as a taxpayer. However, the court ultimately ruled that Omirhobo failed to prove the CBN acted with malice.
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In his reaction, Omirhobo stated, “I have applied for a Certified True Copy of the judgement and will study it to decide my next line of action.”
He noted that the court emphasized Nigeria’s secular and multi-ethnic nature, suggesting it might be time for the CBN to consider removing Arabic writings from certain Naira notes.
MURIC welcomed the judgment.
Akintola praised the decision, saying, “This is a sweet victory. Once again the Nigerian judiciary has demonstrated courage, intellectual excellence, and jurisprudential exactitude. This judgment is far-reaching, profound, didactic, and monumental.”
He criticized Omirhobo’s lawsuit as lacking religious tolerance, stating, “Omirhobo’s approach is not only naïve, it is pedestrian and kindergarten. This suit against Arabic on Naira manifests acute desertification of religious tolerance… We have been vindicated.”