The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has declared that the old Naira Notes of N200, N500 and N1000 have ceased to be legal tender in Nigeria since the 10th of February, 2023.
The declaration was made by the Branch Controller of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Bauchi, Haladu Idris Andaza while briefing Journalists on Monday at the CBN, branch in Bauchi.
He said that “In the last 24 hours, we have been inundated by questions from various angles of the general public about our operational guidelines on the old currency notes, be that as it may, there are so many questions here and there which people have been asking about.”
According to him, “So for the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state categorically that CBN is ready and is opened to receive all of those old notes based on certain conditions and criteria.”
“Customers are free to come to the Bank and deposit which they cannot do at the Commercial Banks anymore because the currency has seized to be a legal tender since the 10th of this month.
“Consequently, the management of the CBN decided that those customers will have a sigh of relief by coming to the offices of the CBN in all the 36 states in the Federation including FCT to deposit their money.
“The customer has to go to the CBN portal and fill a form in the portal, there will be a form there concerning this currency redesign and exchange.”
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba has said that some separatist agitators under the aegis of Oduduwa Nation are amassing weapons in an attempt to disrupt the February 25 and March 11 general elections in the South-West geopolitical zone.
The IGP disclosed this during a meeting with strategic police managers at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Monday.
He also lamented that small arms and light weapons are being trafficked to advance political violence, political extremism and intolerance, while cyberbullying for political ends is on the rise daily.
Secessionist agitation gained prominence in the South-West geopolitical zone mid-2021. The agitation was champion by Yoruba Nation campaigner, Sunday Adeyemo popularly known as Sunday Igboho.
However, the agitation slowed down with the raid of Igboho’s Ibadan residence by the Department of State Services on July 1, 2021. The agitator later escaped to Benin Republic where he was detained by the security agents in the francophone West African country. He was later released on bail but has not returned to Nigeria.
There have been pockets of agitations by Yoruba Nation protesters of late but the police have warned that no disturbance of public peace would be allowed.
Addressing police officers on Monday, the IGP said, “As you are aware, some crimes of national security importance could undermine our efforts towards entrenching a peaceful electioneering process, if not adequately curtailed.
“These include banditry and terrorism which has ravaged many communities in the North-west and North-Central with adverse effects on the economic and social well-being of the residents.
“Similarly, violent secessionist campaigns by IPOB/ESN members have been targeted at various symbols of democratic governance including INEC assets, police stations and personnel as well as other security agencies and Federal Government infrastructures, all in an effort to disrupt the 2023 general elections in the South East geopolitical zone.
“Other major crimes are the growing activities of the Oduduwa Nation Agitators who, from intelligence sources, have been attempting to amass weapons and mobilise other resources towards disrupting the peace, security and electoral process in the South-West geopolitical zone.”
The IGP charged the officers to conduct themselves “within the dictates of the Electoral Act and other laws”, while he assured Nigerians of the commitment of the police to a peaceful, secure, free, fair and credible elections.
The Director of new media of the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign council (APC PCC), Mr Femi Fani-Kayode says he regrets raising the alarm over the fear of an impending coup d’ etat in the country.
Speaking to reporters yesterday in Abuja after he was grilled by the department of state security services (DSS) for five hours, he admitted that he should have been circumspect before going public on the issue.
He added: “Sometimes when in the war front because we are in a war presently on the political front. While experiencing such war there is the fog of war where we say either the right things or the wrong things. Nobody is infallible. But the truth is when it comes to the issue of national security, we have to be careful.”
Acknowledging that the coup alarm raised shock waves across the polity, he explained that his action was aimed at drawing the attention of security agencies to be on top of the situation if there was any iota of truth on the matter.
The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, February 13, 2023, arraigned an actress, Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on a two-count charge bordering on tampering with the redesigned Naira notes.
One of the count reads: “That you, Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, on the 28n day of January, 2023, at Monarch Event Centre Lekki, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst dancing during a social occasion, tampered with the sum of N100, 000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same on the said occasion; and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 21 (1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.
The second count reads: “That you, Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, on the 28th day of January, 2023, at Monarch Event Centre, Lekki, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst dancing during a social occasion, tampered with the sum of N100, 000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by dancing on same on the said occasion; and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 21 (1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.”
The umbrella body of cattle breeders association of Oyo State, Miyetti Allah has today endorsed Governor Seyi Makinde for second term.
The endorsement was made known today at Iseyin during a visitation to the Fulani scribe as part of the campaign tour.
The leaders of the Fulani people in Iseyin hinged their endorsement on the grounds that Makinde’s achievements in Iseyin where they live and the entire state are monumental.
Makinde in his words, appreciated the Fulani tribe in Iseyin and promised to electrified the suburb of Kaara as requested by their leaders.
He also highlighted some of the reasons why himself along with other Southwest governors established Amotekun Corps, saying it was mainly to protect all the residents of Oyo State irrespective of where they come from.
He therefore solicited for the support of the Fulani people in the region to continue showing their support for his administration while reassuring them of more dividends of democracy if he is re-elected for the second term.
Makinde also held town hall meeting with traditional council in Ado-Awaye. The meeting which had traditional leaders drawn from Araromi LCDA in attendance was an avenue used by the community leaders to put forward their demands to the governor.
Alado of Ado-Awaye, Oba Olugbile Fowokanmi while speaking appreciated the executive governor for his development strides in Oyo State particularly in Iseyin. He therefore urged Gov Makinde to spread development to Ado-Awaye and not to limit the spread of developmental projects to Iseyin alone.
Makinde while speaking, thanked the people of Ado-Awaye for their support and asked that they should support his re-election to continue the good work he has started. He promised Ado-Awaye that the town would not lag behind in getting what it deserves in his administration.
He further used the ocassion to solicit for the support of the people of the town to the Oyo North Senatorial candidate, Akinwale Akinwole Wolekanle, the House of Representatives candidate in Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Iwajowa/Kajola Federal Constituency, Oyedeji Shina OSHINE and Hon. Dele Adeola who is contesting to represent Iseyin/Itesiwaju State Constituency for second term.
Popular Nigerian singer, Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo, known as D’banj, has dissociated himself from inciting comments suggesting him taking sides in the fight between his colleagues Seun Kuti and Peter Okoye.
This message comes on the heels of the back and forth between the famous Nigerian singer and internet personality Peter Okoye and Seun Kuti over support for presidential candidates in the forthcoming general elections.
D’banj, in a statement signed by his lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi and made available to DAILY POST on Sunday, advised the public to disregard what he described as “mischief” of a publication maliciously pushed to drive traffic to gossip blogs and stoke non-existent conflict between him and his well-regarded colleagues in the industry.
According to the statement: ”This is to notify the public that Mr Oladapo Daniel (D’Banj) never made any derogatory or disparaging statement against anybody, especially within the entertainment industry, nor has he directed the publication of any such material on his behalf.”
While expressing shock over the false publication attributed to him, the singer added that: “They must all remain one big family in the industry. Though political ideologies may differ and could be expressed in heated ways, the irrefutable truth is that elections will come and go.”
Femi Fani-Kayode on Sunday predicted victory for Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC.
A statement by the former presidential aide declared that Tinubu will not be “robbed” like the late Obafemi Awolowo and MKO Abiola.
Fani-Kayode said the ruling party and its flagbearer were ready to go into the February 25th battle with strength and power.
He noted that no matter how thick the conspiracy is, they shall stand firm, hold the line, keep the flag flying and “prove that we are men.”
“60 years ago Awolowo was robbed and lost it, 30 years ago Abiola was robbed and lost it.
“30 years later and in two weeks’ time, despite the desperation, plots and plans of our enemies, history will not repeat itself, Tinubu will not be robbed.”
The former Minister of Aviation charged the Jagaban Army to stay strong, assuring that Nigeria will soon renew and regain its lost glory.
Advising Tinubu’s supporters never to waver, FFK maintains “Asiwaju shall be President” because it’s “his turn and our time.”
The Lagos State Ministry of Education has ordered the temporary closure of Chrisland School, Opebi-Ikeja, following the reported death of a 12-year-old student of the school, Whitney Adeniran.
This was contained in a statement on the Instagram page of the Lagos State Government on Sunday night.
It partly read, “A release signed by the State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo said the closure was ordered pending the outcome of a full investigation into the unfortunate incident.”
It added, “We also note the impact of this unfortunate event on family, friends and acquaintance of Whitney and call for calm as we assure that no effort will be spared in investigating the incident.”
Whitney’s parents had on Saturday raised the alarm over the death of their daughter during the school’s inter-house sports event at Agege Stadium.
A pro-All Progressives Congress (APC) group on the agies of Progressive Minds Forum (PMF), on Friday, called for the resignation, suspension or sack of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, over alleged compromised judgements that recently emanated from the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The group lamented that the award of Senatorial tickets to Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Senator Godswill Akpabio by the apex court was a great embarrassment to Nigeria because they did not partake in the primary elections of the APC, won by the original holders of the tickets.
The Forum also insisted that the Supreme Court ruling to extend the use of old Naira notes was not done in the interest of Nigerians but to please and aid certain political forces from the South-West who have been clamouring for the extension because the CJN is from the South-west.
In a statement signed by the Forum’s national coordinator, Barrister Preye Johnson, he said that the comportment of the CJN since assumption of office does not befit a man who occupies such an exalted position and saddled with the responsibility of determining the destiny of litigants that come before the Supreme Court.
The statement said: “The Supreme Court is the last hope of the common man, but under Justice Ariwoola, justice is now for the highest bidder.
“The whole world would want to know how failed presidential aspirants like Akpabio and Lawan were awarded Senatorial tickets by the Supreme Court when they never participated in the primary election for those positions in their Senatorial Districts.
“This is a man who recently attended a state dinner in Port Harcourt and apparently after much champagne that are common in such high level political gatherings, made political statements that were unbecoming of his position as the number one jurist in the country.
“Besides only the CJN and Supreme Court Justices can tell if the recent ruling unbanning the use of old Naira notes was done in the overall interest of Nigerians or to enable the APC access enough cash to buy votes in the forthcoming elections.
“Even the Minister or Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has kicked against the judgement and filed an appeal against it.
“The position of the AGF shows that the ruling lacks merit as it was apparently motivated by partisan motives and tribal sentiments which may likely plunge Nigeria into crisis if not immediately curbed.
“Needless to say that such highly compromised and spurious judgements now emanating from the apex court, under Justice Ariwoola, represent a huge embarrassment to Nigeria both at home and abroad.
“They have also cast a pall of doubt over judgements on disputes that may emanate from the forthcoming general elections.
“Therefore, the need for Justice Ariwoola to either resign his position or be sacked in order to checkmate the gross danger the Supreme Court now poses to democracy and rule of law in Nigeria.
“It is clear that the Supreme Court under Justice Ariwoola’s watch lacks integrity therefore he has no basis to continue as CJN especially in view of the forthcoming general election.
“The CJN must be seen to be above board and also must be blind to all parties in the dispensation of justice in order to display extreme neutrality for justice and fairness. However, this is not what we are seeing presently.
“Since the Apex Court has proved its unwillingness to save democracy, Buhari must rise up to the task of saving democracy by ordering the suspension and investigation of the CJN and the other Supreme Court Justices involved in the above referenced cases.”
The APC members also called on the international community to place visa ban on the CJN and the Justices involved in the controversial cases for working to undermine democracy in Nigeria.
They insisted that the judgements have set bad precedent and gravely breached the provisions of Section 115(D) of the Electoral Act 2022, especially in the case of Lawan and Akpabio.
“The whole world is still waiting to know how the Supreme Court came about its ruling making Ahmad Lawan and Godwill Akpabio candidates when it is clear they were both presidential aspirants under the APC.
“The Electoral Act 2022 is very clear that an aspirant cannot contest for two different positions in one election cycle.
“Section 115 (D) of the Act stipulates that ‘a person who signs a nomination paper or result form as a candidate in more than one constituency at the same election commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a maximum term of imprisonment for two years.’
“We appeal to international community to help save democracy in Nigeria by ensuring that the CJN and all justices involved in the recent ruling on Lawan and Akpabio are placed on visa ban,” he stated.
