Lawyer Stirs Controversy Over Arabic Inscription On New Naira Notes

Public interest lawyer, Chief Malcolm Emokiniovo Omirhobo has raised alarm over the Arabic inscription on the redesigned 200, 500, and 1000 naira notes by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, alleging that it is inimical to the unity of Nigeria.

Naija News recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari unveiled the re-designed N200, N500 and N1000 notes at the commencement of the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the State House.

Buhari was flanked by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, and some cabinet members while unveiling the redesigned ₦1,000, N500 and N200.

The new Naira notes will become legal tender commencing from December 15, while the old ones will cease to be legal tender effective February 1, 2023.

This is the first time in 19 years that Nigeria will be redesigning some of her currency notes.

Expressing his views in a statement on Thursday, he argued that Arabic is not one of Nigeria’s four official languages, namely English, Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo, and therefore not indigenous to the country.

“It is about time we realize as Nigerians that no religion is superior to the other, no ethnic nationality is superior to the other and no language is superior to the other and that we are all equal before the constitution and our creator,” he maintained in the statement.