By Thompson Yamput, Lokoja.
Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has threatened to arrest and prosecute those rejecting the old Naira notes.
The governor’s warning is conveyed in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Kingsley Fanwo in Lokoja.
The Supreme Court had on Wednesday ruled that the old Naira notes of N1,000, N500 and N200 denominations should continue as legal tender alongside the new notes in all transactions until December 2023.
The governor described 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 judgment 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 wilfully disobey court orders, moreso, the orders of the highest court in Nigeria,” he said.
Bello enjoined all the residents of Kogi to accept the old notes since the commercial banks had started issuing them (old Naira notes) for day-to-day business transactions.
“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 governor said that the committee members included the Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning; the Commissioner for Information and Communications.
Others are the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry; the State Security Adviser and the Managing Director, Kogi Enterprise Development Agency (KEDA).
Bello said that the committee was to ensure that the residents enjoyed the full benefits of the Supreme Court ruling on the old Naira notes.
He congratulated all Nigerians on the historic ruling of the Supreme Court, the apex court in Nigeria.
He recalled that the Kogi State Government joined other state governments in the country to pursue the case, and they were victorious.
