Many business operators in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have started rejecting the old Naira notes in spite of the Supreme Court order temporarily halting the ban on their use.
Recall that following the redesigning of N200, N500 and N1,000 notes by the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), Jan. 31 was announced as the deadline for use of the old notes.
The Jan. 31 deadline was, however, met with outrage from Nigerians, forcing the apex bank to extend the deadline to Feb. 10, after which the notes would seize to be legal tender.
Meanwhile, governors of Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara approached the Supreme Court on Feb. 3, requesting that the extension should be beyond Feb. 10 as announced by the CBN.
Following the suit, a seven-member panel of the apex court, led by John Okoro, gave the order suspending the Feb. 10 deadline till Feb. 15, when the suit would be determined.
According to reports from some newsmen who went around some parts of the FCT yesterday to monitor the use of the old notes, discovered they were being rejected in public places like fuelling stations, market places and parks.
A commercial driver, seen announcing to passengers to board with new Naira notes, said he started rejecting the old notes because fuelling stations had begun rejecting them.
One of them said, “I went to fuel my car at the station with the old notes and it was rejected. That is why I am insisting on passengers boarding with new notes”.
On the Supreme Court Order, some said he was aware of it but insisted that since people had started rejecting the money he had no choice.
