Lagos Government To Prosecute Those Rejecting Old Naira Notes

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has warned those rejecting old naira notes to desist or face prosecution.

He said the rejection of old N200, N500, and N1,000 notes is contrary to the position of the Supreme Court.

The governor made this known in a statement signed by the Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso on Wednesday.

Lagos Government To Prosecute Those Rejecting Old Naira Notes

The statement read in part, “When the matter first came up on February 8, the apex court said the old notes remained legal tender.

“That position has not changed. The State Government hereby warns those rejecting the old notes to desist from doing so or face prosecution. It is against the law to reject the old notes as doing so is contrary to the position of the Supreme Court.”

The governor, while noting the patience and calmness of Lagosians, following the controversy generated by the Naira shortage crisis, urged them “to remain law-abiding and shun mischief makers who may exploit this temporary situation to promote their anti-people agenda, expressing confidence that the Judiciary would resolve all the issues around the currency shortage crisis.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, however, said his government, had started the distribution of the food packs, and the 50per cent fares slash on all state transportation facilities to “cushion the effect of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) directive on the old notes, especially on the vulnerable among us.”

Recall that on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, the Supreme Court in ruling by a 7-member panel led by Justice John Okoro, temporarily halted the CBN’s February 10 deadline for the exchange of the new naira notes with the newly redesigned naira notes, adjourning the case to February 15, 2023.

However, on Wednesday (today), the apex court adjourned a hearing in the suit banning the use of the old naira to Wednesday, 22nd February 2023. This is coming after nine joined the suit initially filed by Kogi, Kaduna, and Zamfara states.

The states are Katsina, Lagos, Cross River, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo, and Sokoto states bringing the new total of plaintiffs to ten.

On the other hand, Edo and Bayelsa have filed to be joined as respondents. In a related development, some state governments like Kano, Zamfara, Borno, Ogun, and others have warned businesses and banks in the state to stop rejection of old naira notes from citizens or they will be shut down.

The Kano State Government a few days ago shut down a popular supermarket in the state for rejecting old naira notes from customers.

BY IYABO AINA

Publisher News Rain Nigeria