The Supreme Court of Nigeria has affirmed that the old N200, N500 and N100 notes are still legal tender in the country, frowning at the flagrant disregard of its restraining order given on February 8 against the implementation of the February 10 deadline for old notes.

Insisting that the February 8 order still subsists, and no need for new ones, the apex court made the clarification after listening to Abdulhakeem Mustapha (SAN), lawyer to Kaduna, Kogi, and Zamfara states, who intimated the Supreme Court justices that some institutions in the country had stopped collecting the old notes.

Hearing will continue on the suit on February 22, 2022.

In its ruling last week Wednesday February 8 2023, the apex court said: “After careful consideration of this ex-parte application, and the grounds in support of same, this court finds that there is real urgency for this court to intervene by the grant of this application.

“Accordingly, this application is hereby granted as prayed.

“That is to say, an order of interim injunction restraining the Federal Government of Nigeria, either by itself or acting through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and/or the commercial banks, its agents; agencies, corporations, ministries, parastatals, organizations or through any person or persons (natural and artificial) howsoever, from suspending or determining or ending on the 10th of February 2023 the timeframe within which the now older versions of the 200, 500 and 1000 denominations of the naira may no longer be legal tender, pending the hearing and determination of the plaintiffs/applicants’ motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.”

Meanwhile, protests have erupted in many places in Benin City, shortly after the Supreme Court adjourned the case till February 22, 2023. The affected areas include the commercial districts of Ring Road in Benin City.

Also in Delta State, two commercial banks and two vehicles were set ablaze, according to DSP Bright Edafe, PPRO Delta State.

“In UDU LGA of Delta State, some unguided youths/miscreants in the name of protest have set two banks and two vehicles ablaze. We have arrested nine suspects so far. Some persons will still call this protest,” Edafe said.