Supreme Court Says Old Naira Notes Remain Legal Tender Till January 22
The old N200, N500 and N1,000 notes still remain legal tender, as the Supreme Court adjourned hearing of the suit, filed by some state governments to challenge the February 10 deadline for the withdrawal of the notes.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday, said its February 8 order extending the deadline till February 15, subsists till February 22, when it will hear the motion filed by the state governments.
The Kaduna State Government’s Counsel, Abdukareem Mustapha, at the resumption of hearing on Wednesday, drew the attention of the apex court to the Federal Government’s flouting of its February 8 order, by declaring the old notes invalid as from February 10.
The counsel wants the court to take action on the contempt of its order by Federal Government to protect its dignity.
But Justice John Okoro, leading a seven member panel of the apex court, directed the counsel to file a proper application to enable Federal Government respond, and all the process filed and served by Friday, ahead of February 22 hearing of the motion.
Read Also:
Justice Okoro said there was no need for the apex court to renew its February 8 order, allowing the circulation of the old notes, since the motion slated for hearing on Wednesday had been adjourned till February 22.
Justice Kanu ordered Federal Government’s  Counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi to tell his client to make more of the newly designed naira notes available to the public, because an hungry man is an angry man.
Earlier, the Edo and Bayelsa State Governments had announced their intention to join Federal Government in the suit against Kaduna, Zamfara and Kogi State Governments.
Other states including Ondo, Kano, Rivers and six others seeking to join the three states were ordered to amend their process.
The processing was witnessed by Governor Nasir El-Rufai and Yahaya Bello.
