The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) said it has detained an officer seen in a viral video seemingly abusing the naira in cahoots with the sons of Razaq Okoya, the billionaire industrialist.
The officer held wads of naira notes as Subomi ‘Sirheem’ Okoya, a fledgling musician, and his brother Wahab, gyrated to a tune.
The video was touted as a promotional clip for Sirheem’s new song.
The clip has raised posers on recurring cases of abuse of the nation’s currency and the use of police officers for private business.
In 2024, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) ramped up its enforcement of naira abuse by celebritries, citing Section 21 of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act.
On April 4, Bobrisky, the social media celebrity, was arrested by the commission in Lagos for defacing naira notes.
The crossdresser was arraigned on a six-count charge by the EFCC.
On April 16, the EFCC filed a three-count charge against Cubana Chief Priest, the socialite and social media influencer, over alleged naira abuse.
In a statement on Friday, Muyiwa Adejobi, the police spokesperson, said the officer seen in the video with the Okoyas has been detained.
He said the officer’s actions were unethical, adding that he would face disciplinary action.
Adejobi wrote on X, “The policeman captured in the recent viral video shared by the sons of the Lagos businessman, Chief Okoya, where they were abusing the naira, has been identified and detained for disciplinary action”.
“The involvement of the policeman has been condemned, as it’s unethical. We will always strive hard to uphold the sanctity, credibility, and core values of the police.”
In his reaction, Subomi ‘Sirheem’ Okoya apologised to the police, adding that his actions were naive and unintentional.
“To the Nigerian people, my actions were not to cause any trouble or harm. My intentions were pure and naive,” he wrote on X.
“I ask for your forgiveness and support in this situation as I had no intention to raise such an alarm. I wasn’t fully aware of the consequences of my action.”
WHAT THE CBN ACT SAYS ON NAIRA ABUSE
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.
“(2) A coin or note shall be deemed to have been tampered with if the coin or note has been impaired, diminished or lightened otherwise than by fair wear and tear or has been defaced by stumping, engraving, mutilating, piercing, stapling, writing, tearing, soiling, squeezing or any other form of deliberate and wilful abuse whether the coin or note has or has not been thereby diminished or lightened.
“(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.
“(4) It shall also be an offence punishable under Sub-section (1) of this section for any person to hawk, sell or otherwise trade in the Naira notes, coins or any other note issued by the Bank.”
