Zamfara governor issues arrest warrant for anyone rejecting old naira note.

The security personnel have been ordered by Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle to arrest anyone who refuses to recognize and accept old naira notes as lawful tender in the state.

The makeover of the money, according to Matawalle, was implemented at an inappropriate moment and with the wrong intentions during a ceremony at Government House Gusau on Friday to swear in the new High Court Judges and Special Advisers.

“Anyone who refuses to accept the old currency notes of N200, N500, and N1000 in the state should be arrested,” he consequently directed.

According to him, the old currency notes are still valid until the Supreme Court issues its decision in the lawsuit brought by the three northern governors of Kaduna, Kogi, and Zamfara states against the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Government.

The governor added that he, along with his counterparts in Kogi and Kaduna, is asking the Supreme Court to rule that the old naira notes can continue to be used.

Matawalle said, “As you are all aware, the economy of the country as a whole has been plunged into a serious crisis by the decision of the Central Bank to cease recognition of the old naira notes as legal tender from February 10.

He added, “This decision compounded the already dire situation of our state occasioned by banditry and sundry crimes, which significantly disrupted economic activities in the state and the subregion over the years.

“It was in consideration of the grave consequences of this disruptive policy which was not well thought out, that I took the decision to team up with the sister states of Kaduna and Kogi to seek the intervention of the Supreme Court to ensure that both the new and old naira notes remain as legal tender beyond February 10.

“Gladly, the Supreme Court has given an interim injunction barring the CBN from the enforcement of its plan of phasing out the old notes as legal tender from February 10, pending its final ruling on the matter on February 15.”