The new and old Naira currency will remain legal tenders till further notice. This is according to a ruling by the Supreme Court today.
The apex court, in a ruling by a seven-man panel led by Justice Inyang Okoro, said the banknotes should remain in circulation, pending when the Federal Government, after due consultation with relevant stakeholders, takes a decision on the matter.
It made the order after hearing an application that was moved on behalf of the federal government by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
The Supreme court had in a March 3 ruling this year, reaffirmed the use of the old N200, N500, and N1000 banknotes as valid legal tenders.
The court held that the old Naira notes should be used alongside the redesigned currencies until the end of the year.
In its lead judgement that was prepared and delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the apex court slammed the FG for unilaterally introducing the demonitization policy through the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, without consulting the Council of States, the Federal Executive Council, the National Security Council, the National Economic Council, Civil Society Organizations and other relevant stakeholders.
It held that the FG failed to give valid notice to all the federating units before it decided to withdraw the old banknotes from circulation and introduce new ones.
