Amid the deafening silence of the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele over the judgment of the Supreme Court, the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has disclosed that the apex bank has directed that the old N1000, N500 and N200 Naira notes should continue to be in circulation as legal tender.
Soludo in a statement he personally signed on Monday said the CBN governor told him during a phone conversation late Sunday that commercial banks have been directed to accept and transact with the old notes.
Soludo, a former CBN governor disclosed that Emefiele gave the directive at a Banker’s Committee meeting on Sunday.
The governor also urged the residents of the state to accept the old Naira notes, threatening to shut down any commercial banks that refuses to receive the old N500 and N1,000 notes from depositors and issue same to customers.
The statement reads, “Commercial banks have been directed by the central bank to dispense old currency notes and to also receive same as deposits from customers.
“Tellers at the commercial banks are to generate the codes for deposits and there is no limit to the number of times an individual or company can make deposits.
“The Governor of the CBN gave the directive at a Bankers’ Committee meeting held on Sunday, 12th March, 2023. The Governor, Dr. Godwin Emefiele, personally confirmed the above to me during a phone conversation on Sunday night.
“Residents of Anambra are therefore advised to freely accept and transact their businesses with the old currency notes (N200; N500; and N1,000) as well as the new notes. Residents should report any bank that refuses to accept deposits of the old notes. Anambra State Government will not only report such a bank to the CBN, but will also immediately shut down the defaulting branch.”
