Nigeria Law
Currency History

Supreme Court2023· SC/CV/162/2023· Chapter I · Money

AG Kaduna & Ors. v. AGF

Supreme Court 3 March 2023: old ₦200, ₦500, ₦1,000 to remain legal tender until 31 December 2023. CBN later extends indefinitely.

In AG Kaduna & 15 Ors. v. AG Federation (SC/CV/162/2023), the Supreme Court on 3 March 2023 declared that the old ₦200, ₦500 and ₦1,000 notes were to remain legal tender until 31 December 2023. The CBN under Acting Governor Folashodun Shonubi later extended the validity indefinitely (Nov 2023).

Sources

  • · Supreme Court Judgment SC/CV/162/2023 (3 March 2023)

What it cost — political & economic reality

The political and economic reality

Nigeria in 2023: who was in charge, the cabinet of the day, the GDP, and the crises that defined the period.

President · Fourth Republic

Muhammadu Buhari

2015–2023· APC

National reality

Two recessions (2016, 2020). Multiple naira devaluations. ASUU strike of 2022 closed federal universities for ~9 months. End SARS protests (Oct 2020); Lekki Toll Gate incident. Out-of-school children >18 million by 2022.

Crises of the period

  • 2016 recession + FX crisis
  • End SARS + Lekki Toll Gate (Oct 2020)
  • COVID-19 lockdown (2020)
  • 9-month ASUU strike (2022)
  • Naira redesign chaos (Q1 2023)

GDP (World Bank)

$494 bn (2015) → $477 bn (2022)

Cabinet (selected portfolios)

  • Finance

    Kemi Adeosun (2015–18); Zainab Ahmed (2018–23)

  • Justice (AGF)

    Abubakar Malami (SAN)

  • Education

    Mallam Adamu Adamu (2015–23)

  • Petroleum

    Muhammadu Buhari (concurrent); Min. of State Ibe Kachikwu then Timipre Sylva

Source: Federal Gazette 2015–23; CBN; NBS

President · Fourth Republic

Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu

2023–present· APC

National reality

Fuel subsidy removed at inauguration (29 May 2023); naira floated June 2023. Inflation at multi-decade highs (>30% YoY in 2024). Student loan scheme (NELFUND) launched 2024. WAEC torchlight exam controversy (2025).

Crises of the period

  • Cost-of-living crisis 2023–25
  • WAEC torchlight examinations (2025)
  • JAMB CBT technical failures (2025)
  • Naira free-fall 2023–24

GDP (World Bank)

≈ $363 bn (2023, post-float)

Cabinet (selected portfolios)

  • Finance

    Wale Edun (Coordinating Minister of the Economy)

  • Justice (AGF)

    Lateef Fagbemi (SAN)

  • Education

    Tahir Mamman (2023–24); Tunji Alausa (2024– )

Source: Federal Gazette 2023– ; CBN; NBS

Methodology

Tier 1 · primary

Courts. Gazettes. National archives.

Tier 2 · corroborating

OCCRP. HRW. BudgIT. TheCable.

Redline

Wikipedia is never a source.