The Oluwo of Iwoland in Osun State, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to embark on public sensitization for Nigerians on naira abuse before making arrests.
The monarch made this call in a statement signed by his Press Secretary, Alli Ibraheem, on Wednesday.
Oba Akanbi explained that many Nigerians are ignorant of the acts constituting naira abuse, enjoining the anti-graft agency to conduct an enlightenment in the media to educate people before enforcing penalties.
The statement came as result of the recent arrest and arraignment of Nigerian socialite, Pascal Okechukwu popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest.
The EFCC arraigned Cubana Chief Priest at the Federal High Court in Lagos before Justice Kehinde Ogundare.
When the case was called, the socialite pleaded not guilty and was granted a N10 million bail.
In the statement Oluwo laued the EFCC in its efforts to fight corruption, but advocated for caution in the arrest of people over naira abuse.
The monarch noted that the habit of spraying naira notes is rampant among the Yorubas and Igbos most especially at cultural wedding, naming and burial ceremonies.
He said that it has become a cultural habit in the two tribes with a very few exceptions.
“While commending the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for their efforts so far in recovering billion of stolen naira, I urge the commission to conduct comprehensive enlightenments for Nigerians on naira handlings.
“The recent litigation by the EFCC against naira abuse is a misplaced priority. The practice of spraying money is more cultural to the Yorubas and Igbos,” Oluwo said.
“There is a cultural spirit in Yoruba that forces you to spend money uncontrollably at your exciting moment. I’m sure the spirit will be tamed when people have public knowledge of possible penalties for naira abuse. The commission should not place the cart before the horse.
“EFCC should devise both print and electronic media to enlighten the public on those acts constituting naira abuse and spell out penalties. The public knowledge will unavoidably caution individuals and empower the commission to identify and punish arrogant naira abusers,” the statement read.
Last week, the popular crossdresser Idris Okuneye, better known as Bobrisky, was jailed for six months over mutilation of currency.
