Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has issued a warning to banks still rejecting the old naira note despite the directive from the Supreme court.

The governor shared the warning in an open letter he posted on his Instagram page this afternoon, March 13.

According to him, any bank that failed to comply with the directive to receive and give out old notes would be shut down.

He wrote;

“My dear Lagosians,

I have noted the difficulties that you have been having over the naira redesign crisis. I feel your pains.
I discussed with top officials in CBN who assured me that commercial banks were directed to accept the old N500 and N1,000 notes as deposits and pay them out for withdrawals. They informed me that commercial banks got the directive at a Bankers Committee meeting on Sunday, March 12, 2023.
I therefore, urge you to go ahead and have transactions with the old notes. Lagosians should feel free to use the old notes for commercial purposes. Retailers, transporters, traders and all businesses must not reject them, as they remain legal tender, following the Supreme Court verdict, which extends the validity of the notes to December 31, 2023.
Any business that fails to collect the notes will be heavily sanctioned.
I therefore advise Lagos residents to freely accept and transact their businesses with the old currency notes (N200; N500; and N1,000)as well as the new notes.
If any bank refuses to accept deposits of old notes, please lodge a complaint with the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) via these numbers; 08124993895, 09064323154, 08092509777.
The Lagos State Government will report the bank to the CBN, and immediately shut down the offending branch.
I thank you so much and assure you that all this too shall pass as the authorities are working to ensure that the teething problems of the redesigning of our currency are resolved.”

A Makurdi Magistrate’s Court has remanded two students, Ugosor Japhet, and Gwebe Ageba over allegations of negligent homicide and armed theft, on Monday, March 13, 2023.

The defendants were detained after being accused of murdering Erkaa Naomi Dooshima, a student at Benue State University.

The Magistrate, Mrs. Erdoo Ter, did not take the plea of the defendants for want of jurisdiction.

As further inquiries into their offenses were being made, she ruled that the suspects should remain in custody at Makurdi Correctional Center. Ter then put the matter on hold until April 12, 2023, so it could be discussed further.

The crime was reported by one Erkaa Reuben of Logo II, Akpehe, Makurdi, at “E” Divisional Police Station, Makurdi, on February 21, 2023, according to Police Prosecutor Sgt. Regina Ishaya, who testified in court.

Ishaya claimed that Ugosor Japhet had illegally obtained N150,000 as a rent deposit from the complainant’s sister, Naomi Erkaa.

According to her, the funds were deposited into the defendant’s Access Bank account.

The police counsel added that the defendant, after receiving the money, conspired with the second defendant and deceitfully enticed the victim to his home under the pretense of handing her the apartment’s keys.

The victim was assaulted with a cutlass and suffered severe wounds to her wrists, neck, and head when she arrived at the home of the first defendant, the witness continued, causing her to bleed to death.

The defendants then covertly relocated the deceased’s body, stripped her nude, buried her beneath a mass of yam tendrils, and dumped her cosmetic bag, Itel phone, and iPhone, all of which had undetermined values.

The suspects were detained and made confessions to committing the crime, she said, during the course of the police probe.

Ter requested an adjournment of the case until a later date so that it can be discussed, stating that the inquiry into the issue was still continuing.

She claims that the crimes violate Section 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offenses Act of 2006, Sections 97 and 222 of the Penal Code of the Law of Benue State of 2004, and Sections 1(1)(2)(a)(b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act of 2004.