Kogi State Orders Arrest Warrant For Those Rejecting Old Notes

• The Kogi State government is moving to tackle the discrimination of the old naira notes by individuals and businesses.

• The Old legal tender of the nation has generated a lot of controversy across the country following the redesign of the new notes.

• This comes after the supreme court retained the legality of the old notes despite the Central Bank still reluctant to go back on its stance regarding the old notes.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Kogi State Government has issued a directive ordering the arrest and prosecution of individuals and businesses rejecting old naira notes, following the recent ruling by the Supreme Court that both old and new naira notes remain legal tender until December 31, 2023.

The order was made in a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, who congratulated Nigerians on the ruling and explained that the Yahaya Bello administration joined other states to pursue the case to ease the hardship occasioned by the unavailability of cash.

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The Commissioner expressed displeasure that some persons and businesses continue to reject the old notes, even after the court validated their use. “Rejecting the old naira notes is a clear disobedience of the Supreme Court ruling,” he stressed.

He warned that anyone who rejects the old naira notes should be reported to security and government authorities for immediate action, and banks that refuse to accept old naira deposits shall be sealed.

Furthermore, Fanwo emphasized that the government will not tolerate financial institutions that “willfully disobey court orders, moreso, the orders of the highest court in Nigeria”. He reminded banks that since they are issuing the old naira notes, they are bound to also receive them. The commissioner added that the government cannot continue to kill the economy after the Supreme Court has granted Nigerians freedom.

To ensure full adherence and compliance to the verdict, the government has established a high-powered committee. The committee will be responsible for monitoring and ensuring compliance with the Supreme Court’s ruling across the state.

The Kogi State Government’s directive is expected to create awareness among Nigerians about the continued validity of old naira notes and promote their use, thereby easing the financial burden on citizens.

The directive also serves as a reminder that all court orders must be obeyed to maintain law and order in the country.