Olu Samuel, Lokoja
The Kogi state government has warned citizens and businesses against rejecting the old Naira notes.
This follows the supreme Court ruling last week that both the old and new naira notes remain legal tenders until December 31 , 2023 when the old notes will cease to be legal tender.
The state Commissioner for information, Kingsley Fanwo in a statement on Friday said that the supreme Court ruling means that both the old and new naira notes can be accepted for the purpose of transacting business till the end of this year
“We congratulate Nigerians on the historic ruling of the Supreme Court, the highest court in Nigeria, to the effect that both the old and new naira notes remain legal tenders until December 31 , 2023 when the old notes will cease to be legal tender”.
According to him, It is unacceptable that some persons and businesses will continue to reject the use of the old naira notes, even after the court judgement validating their use. Rejecting the old naira notes is a clear disobedience of the Supreme Court ruling.
He said that the reason the Kogi State Government joined other State Governments in the country to pursue the case was to ease the hardship occasioned by the unavailability of the new naira notes, which the court fully granted.
The Commissioner said that “Anyone who rejects the old naira notes should be reported to security and government authorities for immediate action.”
He also warned that banks that refuse to accept old naira deposits shall be sealed as the State Government will not accommodate financial institutions that willfully disobey court orders, moreso, the orders of the highest court in Nigeria.
According to him,”Kogites should note that since the banks are issuing the old naira notes, they are bound to also receive it. We cannot continue to kill our economy after the Supreme Court has granted us freedom.
He said that the State Government has therefore set up a high-powered Committee headed by the Commissioner for Finance, budget and economic planing to ensure full adherence and compliance to the ruling of the Supreme Court.