How herder was deceived to sell cows, collect bride price in old notes

A 53-year-old man, Isah Mohammed, from Lapai LGA of Niger State, was stranded at the Minna branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with over N2 million in the old N500 and N1000 notes which he said he realised from selling three cows and farm produce in preparation for two of his daughters’ wedding.

Mohammed told City & Crime that he was about to postpone the weddings which were billed to hold before fasting when he heard that the deadline for the collection of the old naira notes had been extended.

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He said, “When they told me that the deadline had been extended, I took my cows to the market and sold them. I also sold some of my farm produce, and in total, I am holding about N2m because I needed cash to buy things for two of my daughters’ weddings. The grooms’ families also brought bride prices of N200,000 for the two girls. After I collected the cash from the sales of my cows and farm produce, I went to the market to buy the things we needed and I was told that they only extended the deadline for N200. I went to my bank to deposit it and was told to come to CBN. I don’t know what to do if they don’t collect the cash from me.”

At the Minna CBN, dozens of other customers, most of whom came from the rural areas to deposit the old N500 and N1000 notes, appealed to the apex bank to make the process flexible to enable them have access to the new notes and go about their normal businesses.