A blind man has sued the governments of eight West African states, claiming that they have threatened the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of blind people.

The suit stems from a huge project completed this year by Senegal and seven neighboring states to replace $1.3 billion in putrid West African francs with brand new non-smelly notes.

God money, I'll do anything for you

"The smell was the only way I could tell how much I was being paid" complained Owoduni, the Senegalese newspaper vendor who initiated the lawsuit. "With the new francs, I will have to hire someone I can trust to take in the money. How can I make a good profit like that?"

Blind since birth, Owoduni, whose name means "it is nice to have money", claims that he can tell the denomination of any bill by its odor. "People always keep the most valuable bills in their shoes and underwear. The smellier it is, the more it's worth."

Torn, wrinkled, and faded, many of the regionšs once colorful notes were almost unrecognizable; some even turning black from being constantly handled and passed from one person to the next. The World Health Organization had even begun to investigate the possibility of the 12 year old bills as carriers of disease, fearing the spread of Avian flu or the Creeping Scunge.

Most business owners are happy to see the old currency go. "It was disgusting," exclaimed Babukar, a Nigerian tea shop owner. "Customers would come in and pull money out of their crotch and armpits. It stank and some of it was so dirty I could hardly see the denomination!"

Sight Savers International, who is assisting Owoduni in bringing the suit against the West African states, has asserted that replacing the pungent bills will significantly hinder the ability of blind people to make a living. "Blind people can't see their money," said a spokesman for the group. "They have to rely on their nose to tell a bills value. Taking that away from them is like kicking the crutches out from under a cripple."