The Jigawa State government has said the old N500 and N1000 notes are still legal tender in the state pending the judgment of the Supreme Court. The state Commissioner for Information, Youths Sports and Culture, Ibrahim Mamsa, disclosed this in a statement issued late Thursday, February 16.
Mamsa’s statement came hours after President Buhari in a nationwide broadcast declared that the old notes cease to be legal tenders.
The statement from the state government reads
?The Jigawa State Government wishes to inform members of the Public that, it has come to its notice some individuals and corporate bodies are rejecting the now-old N200, N500 and N1000 notes. The Jigawa State Government is concerned about the conduct of such individuals and corporate bodies.
As a law-abiding government, there are suits by various state governments of which Jigawa State is among before the Supreme Court of Nigeria. The court has issued an order restraining the Federal Government of Nigeria, either by itself or acting through the Central Bank of Nigeria and/or commercial banks, ministries, parastatals, organisations or through any person or persons (natural and artificial) howsoever, from suspending or determining or ending on February 10, 2023 the time frame within which the now older versions of the 200, 500 and 1000 denominations of the naira may no longer be legal tender pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
Jigawa State Government respects the rights of its people and those rejecting the now-old currencies are enjoined to desist from disobeying the law and causing hardship to the people of Jigawa State. Jigawa State Government will not hesitate to use section 287(1) of the Constitution (as amended) and other extant laws to enforce the order of the Supreme Court of Nigeria,? the statement reads
The state government urged residents to report any trader or business organization that refuses to accept the old N200, N500 and N1000 notes as legal tender to the nearest appropriate authorities in the state.