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kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello has threatened to arrest and prosecute traders and any others that reject the old Naira notes in the state
The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Lokoja.
Recalled that the Supreme Court had on Wednesday ruled that the old Naira notes of N1,000, N500 and N200 should continue as legal tender alongside the new notes in all transactions until December 2023.
But, many people include traders in the country were yet to comply with the ruling .
Reacting to the development, Bello fumed ,describing it as “unacceptable” and “demeaning” the continuous rejection of the old Naira notes in spite of the supreme court ruling.
“This administration will not stand and watch some persons and businesses continue to reject the use of the old naira notes, even after the court judgement validating their use.
“To us, rejecting the old naira notes is a clear disobedience of the Supreme Court ruling, which shall be vehemently resisted.
“Anyone who rejects the old naira notes should be reported to the security and government authorities for immediate arrest and prosecution.
“Also, banks that refuse to accept old naira deposits shall be sealed up as the state government will not accommodate financial institutions that willfully disobey court orders, moreso, the orders of the highest court in Nigeria, ” Bello said.
The governor however, implored all residents of Kogi state to accept the old notes since the commercial banks have started issuing old naira notes for day to day business transactions.
He added “as patriots, the people of Kogi are bound to also receive it, because we cannot continue to kill our economy after the Supreme Court has granted us freedom.
“Consequently, the state government has set up a high-powered committee to ensure full adherence and compliance to the ruling of the Supreme Court as regards the use of the old notes.”
He said the committee members include: the state Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning; Commissioner for Information and Communications.
Others are: Commissioner for Commerce and Industry; the State Security Adviser and the Managing Director, Kogi Enterprise Development Agency (KEDA).
The governor said that the Committee was to ensure that residents take full benefits of the Supreme Court ruling on the old naira notes.
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