The Supreme Court has ruled that both the old and the redesigned Naira banknotes remain valid legal tenders in the country beyond December 31.
The apex court, in a ruling by a seven-man panel led by Justice Inyang Okoro, on Wednesday, indicated that the banknotes should remain in circulation, pending when the Federal Government, after due consultation with relevant stakeholders, takes a decision on the matter.
The order was made after the hearing of an application moved on behalf of the federal government by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
The Supreme court had on March 3,2023 nullified the ban on the use of the old N200, N500, and N1000 banknotes as valid legal tenders by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
The court held that the old Naira notes should be used alongside the redesigned currencies until the end of the year.
The Apex court had criticised the federal government 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.