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CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele risks arrest for short Naira Swap Extension

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Still on the Naira notes swap, The House of Representatives Adhoc Committee, Has rejected the 10 days extension granted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the swap of old N200, N500, N1,000 bank notes. 

In a statement released on Sunday, January 29, the Chairman of the Committee and the Majority Leader of the House, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, said the lawmakers will proceed and sign an arrest warrant to compel the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele to appear before the committee. 

He said, The new naira redesign policy is capable of frustrating the forthcoming 2023 general elections. Recall that many Nigerians have complained about inability to access the newly redesigned notes.

The newly redesigned naira notes

The CBN had initially placed the deadline for the exchange of the old Naira notes for the new ones on January 31st . However, following the series of complains from Nigerians, the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, in a statement released on Sunday, January 29, announced that the deadline had been extended to February 10. 

In its immediate reaction, the House of Representatives committee chaired by Doguwa rejected the extension, insisting that the CBN must comply with sections 20 sub 3, 4, and 5 of the CBN Act. “The 10-day extension for the exchange of the old naira notes is not the solution: We as a legislative committee with a constitutional mandate of the house, would only accept clear compliance with section 20 sub 3, 4, and 5 of the CBN act and nothing more.

Nigeria as a developing economy and a nascent democracy must respect the principle of the rule of law. And the House would go ahead to sign arrest warrant to compel the CBN Governor to appear before the adhoc committee.”

Doguwa said under his chairmanship, the committee would continue its work until it gets the demands of Nigerians addressed in accordance with the laws of the land. 

He described the extension as a mere political gimmick to further deceive Nigerians and worsen their economic and social livelihood, insisting that the CBN governor must appear before or stand the risk of being arrested on the strength of legislative writs signed earlier by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Ademola Adeleke sacked as Governor of Osun state

Finance

President Mohammadu Buhari declares Old 200 naira note as the only legal tender till April 10th

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The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) has approved the continuous use of the old N200 as legal tender till April 10.

The President made this known on Thursday morning during an address to Nigerians. He also apologised to Nigerians over the difficulties experienced in accessing the scarce new naira notes.

Speaking to Nigerians, Buhari said, “I am deeply pained and sincerely sympathise with you all over these unintended outcomes. To stem this tide, I have directed the CBN to deploy all legitimate resources and legal needs to ensure that our citizens are adequately educated on the policy , enjoy easy access to cash withdrawal through availability of appropriate amount of currency and availability of currency.”

He further added, “To further ease the supply particularly to our citizens, I have given approval to the CBN that the old N200 bank notes be released back into circulation and that it should also be allowed to circulate as legal tender with the new N200, N500, and N1000 bank note for 60 days from Feb 10 till April 10 2023, when the old N200 note ceases to become legal tender.”

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ICPC arrests Bank manager over wrapped new Naira notes in ATM vault in Osogbo

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has arrested the manager of a bank in Osogbo, Osun State, for loading the bank’s automated teller machines with wrapped new Naira notes, thus preventing the machine from being able to dispense the notes.

The ICPC made this known on Twitter page on FridayAccording to the agency, the team directed that the wrapped new Naira notes be properly loaded so that they could be dispensed properly.

The wrapped new Naira notes in ATM vault

“ICPC Compliance Team in Oshogbo has busted an FCMB in Osogbo, Osun State where some ATMs were loaded with cash with their wrappers unremoved, thus preventing the cash from being dispensed. The Team therefore directed that the wrappers be removed, and the cash loaded properly.

“However, when a follow-up visit was undertaken the following day to ascertain the level of compliance, the team discovered that one of the ATMs was still loaded with the wrappers unremoved. The Operation Manager of the Bank was arrested and taken in for questioning.

READ ALSO: Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed Says President Buhari is unhappy with the current hardship caused by the naira redesign

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Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed Says President Buhari is unhappy with the current hardship caused by the naira redesign

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The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, Has disclosed that President Buhari is unhappy with the hardship Nigerians are facing due to the newly redesigned Naira notes.
 
She made this known while speaking at the 65th ministerial briefing organized by the Presidential Communications Team in the State House, Abuja, In response to the question on whether the government was not worried about how it’s beautiful idea of redesigning the naira was causing untold hardship in the lives of Nigerians, especially in an election year?

Here was her answer”Of course, we are worried. We are not happy that citizens have to queue and struggle at ATMs to be able to get their cash. But this is a temporary situation. Let me just give you an analogy. If you have a wound, for you to be able to heal that wound, you need to be dressed. And sometimes, when you go to the hospital, they put iodine on the wound and it is very painful. It is necessary to do that to be able to get the wound to heal.

So, it’s not easy. Mr. President is not happy that citizens are suffering. But we are convinced that it is something that needs to be done at this time and also the Central Bank has been responsive in terms of providing some extension and also further explanation that come the closing date, that it is not all over.

There is still opportunity for citizens as provided for in the CBN Act, Section 20 subsection 3 to actually take the old currency to the central bank for redemption. So, it’s not all over. But the positive side of it is that there is a lot of currency that has been mopped up by this operation.

And it means it has achieved a good level of success, but the only sore point is the pain that it has caused to citizens which is regrettable, but which is also very transient and temporary and the bulk is continuing to address” she said

We hope the Government does something to salvage this present situation.

READ ALSO: New Update on CBN policy for new Naira notes dispensation and old Naira notes submition to Banks

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