Lawyer Questions Arabic Inscription On New Naira Notes

Nigerian lawyer, Chief Malcolm Emokiniovo Omirhobo has questioned the Arabic inscription on the redesigned 200, 500, and 1000 naira notes by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

According to Omirhobo, such inscription is divisive and can cause disharmony because it makes one religion above the others, which is against the constitution of the country.

Recall 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 N1,000, 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.

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.