The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says its operatives at the Gombe zonal command have arrested one Zachariyya Muhammad for “abuse of the naira”.
In a statement on Wednesday, the EFCC said Muhammad was arrested on May 25 following intelligence linking him with alleged spraying of naira notes at G-Connect in Tunfure, Gombe.
“Upon his arrest, he was shown a video where he was dancing and spraying Naira notes in N200 (Two Hundred Naira) denomination. He admitted to being the one in the video,” the statement reads.
“He will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.”
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Section 21 of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act frowns at abuse of the naira in the form of tampering, stepping on, tearing, spraying, and hawking.
Section 21 of the Act states: “(1) A person who tampers with a coin or note issued by the Bank is guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for a term not less than six months or to a fine not less than N50,000 or to both such fine and imprisonment.
“(3) For the avoidance of doubt, spraying of, dancing or matching on the Naira or any note issued by the Bank during social occasions or otherwise howsoever shall constitute an abuse and defacing of the Naira or such note and shall be punishable under Sub-section (1) of this section.”
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Recently, the EFCC went after celebrities who allegedly abused the naira.
On April 12, a federal high court in Lagos sentenced Bobrisky, the social media celebrity, to six months in prison for abusing the naira.
On April 16, the EFCC filed a three-count charge against Cubana Chief Priest, the nightlife promoter, for alleged abuse of the Nigerian currency.
Earlier this month, the EFCC said its operatives in Kano have secured the convictions of 31 individuals involved in illegal currency trading and abuse of the naira.
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