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.

“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

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

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has clarified the position of the apex bank chief, Godwin Emefiele, that old N200, N500 and N1,000 will still be accepted after the February 10, 2023 fresh deadline.

The Central Bank of Nigeria has also now directed banks to begin payment of naira notes across the counter to the limit of 20,000 naira daily to decongest queues at ATMs across the country effective immediately.

The bank issued the statement on Thursday, February 2, 2023 via its Director of Communications, Osita Nwanisiobi.

They also vowed to prosecute sellers and abusers of the new naira notes.

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