The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a N1billion suit instituted against former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, over the hardship caused by the 2023 naira redesign policy.

Justice Inyang Ekwo on Monday, struck out the case due to a lack of diligent prosecution.

The suit was filed by an Abuja-based legal practitioner, Uthman Tochukwu, who accused the defendants of imposing severe hardships on Nigerians through the policy.

Marked as case number FHC/ABJ/CS/418/2023, the plaintiff sued Buhari, the Attorney General of the Federation, the former CBN Governor Emefiele, the CBN, and two commercial banks.

Tochukwu claimed that the naira redesign caused him significant hardship, alleging that his fundamental rights to freedom of movement and personal dignity were violated.

In the suit, filed through his counsel, Bala Dakum, Tochukwu asserted that his ability to move freely was curtailed, and he was unable to access his funds held in two commercial banks during the period of hardship resulting from the naira redesign in January and March 2023.

The plaintiff sought N1billion in damages from the defendants for the alleged breach of his fundamental rights.