Hours after the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) deployed the eNaira website and days before its official launch,a firm has issued a cease and desist notification to the apex bank over the ‘E Naira’ coinage.
This was contained in a notification issued to the media on Tuesday titled: “Infringement of Trademark & Violation of Corporate Name cease and desist Notification to the Central Bank of Nigeria.” The notice was signed by Olakule Agbebi Esq for Olakule Agbebi & Co .
According to the Notification from the solicitor, his client “ENAIRA PAYMENT SOLUTIONS LIMITED (RC 508500)” has been incorporated since 7th April 2004 registered in class 36 and class 42.
The firm claims that the launch of the eNaira is a threat and shows willful infringement of his client’s trademark. The notices also added that his client is now exposed to damages, loss of business and loss of goodwill.
The statement further read : “For this reasons, our client has approached the Federal High Court in Suit No: FHC/AB/CS/113/2021 between ENAIRA PAYMENT SOLUTIONS LIMITED vs CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA to seek a restraining order including an order to restrain CBN from proceeding in the launch on 1st October 2021,” the Notice stated.
The Notice added, “In the interim, the CBN is hereby warned to cease and desist from using or purporting to use the name eNaira for its product or in any way.”
It will be recalled that the apex bank had been on the speed lane over the planned official launch of the eNaira billed for this year’s independence day celebration.
