Former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Lamido Sanusi has quelled speculations that the bank could remove Arabic inscription, also known as Ajami, from the redesigned naira notes.
The deposed Emir of Kano said he got confirmation from the CBN governor Godwin Emefiele that the Arabic inscription would not be removed.
Some Islamic scholars had alleged a ploy by the Federal Government to remove the Ajami inscription from the notes.
However, Sanusi, who is also the Khalifa of the Tijaniyya Islamic sect in Nigeria, encouraged them to seek clarification in matters like this, instead of concocting misinformation for public consumption.
He said, “There has been speculation going round about the change of some naira notes. I heard various scholars commenting, with some implying that the Ajami on the naira notes would be removed.
“I want to use this medium to authoritatively confirm to the Muslim ummah that there are no such plans.
“Since the issue came up, we have spoken to some people in the Central Bank, and they confirmed to me that such a plan is non-existent.
“When the misconception becomes widespread, I spoke to the CBN governor himself, and he also confirmed to me that there is no plan whatsoever to remove the Ajami.
“So, I want to appeal to Islamic scholars to please stop acting on unsubstantiated reports.
“I know some of the scholars making these comments are doing so without investigating the information brought to them.”
