Lawyers and litigants in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed frustration over their inability to file court proceedings due to the lack of new Naira notes.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), which interviewed some lawyers on Sunday, gathered that lawyers in Abuja are worried that the situation is affecting their legal practice.
Cleansman Ogidi, at the Federal High Court, Maitama, told NAN that the situation has caused delays and obstacles for most lawyers in filing proceedings in court.
Mr. Ogidi said he intended to file a motion with notice, but could not because money was not available to pay the filing fee.
Since this currency exchange issue, we have not found it easy in the courts, not only this high court, but other courts in the FCT, he said.
“We don’t have cash for the process and if we want to make online payments, the network is not easily accessible.
“Point Of Service (POS) operators also do not have money to give to customers.
“I know how much I spent on fuel to make sure I came to court to file a lawsuit, but at the end of the day, I won’t get anything.
“The situation has led to the postponement of most of the cases I have in court. This is very frustrating and worrying,” he said.
Joseph Udoh, one of Mr. Ogidi’s clients, said he lives in Gwagwalada and attends the Maitama court almost every week because of certain cases.
“I have spent a lot of money on transport and other logistics, it is not easy for me because of this currency exchange.
“Right now, I can’t access new money to pay my lawyers and if I don’t pay them, they might decide to drop the case,” he said.
Another lawyer, Wilson Adodo, in Karu, FCT Magistrate Court, said he was frustrated that he could not pay online for the filing fee to file an application for bail.
He said, “as long as I am unable to submit a bail application, my client remains in custody.
Mr. Adodo asked him Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and relevant authorities to distribute the newer Naira notes to the public, adding that such efforts will alleviate the suffering of poor Nigerians.
Also, Roseline Eduwah, a businesswoman in the FCT, said she lost her handset and Permanent Voter Card (PVC), and the issuing authority sought a court affidavit.
Ms. Eduwah said she went to the FCT High Court, Maitama, to get an affidavit, but could not get it.
“This is because I do not have the new Naira notes and my efforts to pay online have been frustrated.
“I went to about four different banks, I didn’t get the money to get the affidavit.
“Even when I say, I don’t have a mobile phone, I’ve lost PVC and I don’t know how I will vote without PVC.
“I pray the situation will go down so that the problem can be corrected,” he said.
A civil servant in the FCT, Aaron Ugwu, who is preparing for retirement, expressed his displeasure over the currency exchange.
Mr. Ugwu said he waited for more than six hours at First Bank, while he searched for new Naira notes to get his affidavit in court.
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“I queued at First Bank in Coommasse House, Central Area in Abuja, just for N5,000, but at the end of the day, I could not get the money.
“I can’t go back to court for an affidavit, I need a court affidavit to correct my name on the records in my office.
“The spelling of my middle name, on the KTP, is different from the one in the office records, I need an affidavit to correct it, because I will be retiring,” he said.
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VOE/VAO
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