Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti state has announced that traders and service providers who refuse to accept the old N500 and N1000 banknotes will be apprehended and brought to justice by the government.

Oyebanji in a statement issued by his special assistant on media to the pressmen on Saturday 11th March,2023 in Ado Ekiti appealed to people of the state to desist from creating further hardship for residents of the state, Vanguard Newspaper Reported

He went further to explain that the #1000 and #500 old notes remain legal tender by virtue of the supreme Court ruling which extended the validity till December 31st ,2023

He acknowledge the outcry of citizens of the state due to hardship resulting from the low circulation of the newly redesigned #1000 and #500 due to the scarcity

Oyebanji pressed further by saying the refusal of many business owner to collect the old notes as issued by the supreme Court is an illegal act

“This is an appeal to all residents of Ekiti to abide by the ruling of the Supreme Court, which has provided a reprieve for the people by extending the validity date of the old naira notes till Dec., 31.

“As honourable people, what is expected of us is to abide by the ruling of the apex court and continue to accept the old naira notes as means of transactions and not to inflict further hardship on one another by rejecting it.

“Government will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute business owners found rejecting the old naira notes,” the statement quoted Oyebanji as saying.

The governor ,therefore ,pleaded with artisans, business owners,service operators, transporters ,fuel station and supermarket owners to abide the law and accept the new naira note

He also admonish the commercial banks and Central Bank of Nigeria,(CBN) to make the old and new currencies available in their branches and at their Automated Teller Machines (ATM) points in order to reduce the stress residents go through to get money for their daily and commercial needs