Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi has threatened to arrest and prosecute those who reject the old Naira notes.
This was contained in a statement issued by Bello’s Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo in Lokoja.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that the old Naira notes of N1000, N500 and N200 should continue as legal tender alongside the new notes in all transactions until December 2023.
The governor described as “unacceptable” and “contemptuous” the continued rejection of the old Naira notes despite the supreme court ruling.
“This administration will not stand by and watch some people and businesses continue to reject the use of the old naira notes, even after the courts have condemned their use.
“For us, rejecting the old naira notes is a clear violation of the Supreme Court decision, which we will strongly reject.
“Anyone who rejects old naira notes should be reported to the security authorities and the government for immediate arrest and prosecution.
“Also, banks that refuse to accept old naira deposits will be sealed because the state government will not accommodate financial institutions that willfully disobey court orders, much less, orders from the highest court in Nigeria,” Bello said.
The governor urged all Kogi residents to endeavor to accept the old notes as commercial banks have started issuing these notes (old naira notes) for daily business transactions.
“As patriots, Kogi people will surely accept, because we cannot continue to kill the economy after the Supreme Court gave us freedom.”
“Consequently, the state government has set up a powerful Committee to ensure adherence and compliance with the Supreme Court ruling on the use of old records,” Bello said.
He said the members of the committee include: the state Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning; Information and Communications Commissioner.
Others are: Commissioner for Trade and Industry; State Security Adviser and Director General, Kogi Business Development Agency (KEDA).
The governor said the Committee was to ensure that citizens take advantage of the Supreme Court’s decision on the old naira notes.
However, the governor congratulated Nigerians on the historic decision of the Supreme Court, the highest court in Nigeria.
He explained that because of that, the Kogi Government joined forces with other State Governments in the country to pursue the case, and won.