Spray Naira Notes During Parties, Go To Prison – Police

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

The Police in Lagos have warned members of the public that spraying of Naira notes during events was a criminal offence as such offenders will be arrested and sent to prison.

The warning was given on the heel of the clamp down on suspected Naira vendors, who hawk and trade on Nigerian currencies on the streets; eight suspects were arrested and Naira notes were recovered from them.

P.M.EXPRESS reports as was disclosed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana, who said that the operation lasted for several days. He said that the Police acted on credible intelligence in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria and other sister security agencies and raided markets within Ikeja and environs where Nigerian currencies were being hawked.
The operation was carried out on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th July, 2019; the suspects were arrested and exhibits recovered from them during the raid.
The suspects namely, Adetoro Adijat, ‘f’,37, Mahmoud Ayoola, ‘f’,42, Eze Madu, ‘m’, 27, Olorunfunmi Shakirat, ‘f’,38, Akonji Julius, ‘m’ 40, Olalekan Kadri, ‘m’ 23, Akinsonya Abiodun, ‘m’ 34 and Adeniyi Yetunde, ‘f’ 30, were arrested in connection with the crime.

DSP Elkana stated that the cash sum of Two million, four hundred and forty thousand, five hundred and fifty Naira (N2,440,550.00) mint of different denominations, used in the illicit trade and other exhibits were recovered.
He said that investigation was ongoing to ascertain the source of new notes and the suspects will be charged to court under Section 20 and 21 of the CBN Act 2007.
“It is a punishable offence under the CBN Act for any person or group of persons to hawk, sale or otherwise trade in the Naira notes, coins or any note issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Upon conviction, the offenders will be liable to imprisonment for not less than six months or a fine not less than N50,000 or both.”

He said that it was important for members of the public to note that acts of spraying the Naira notes at occasions, soiling and writing on the Naira, squeezing the Naira, as well as hawking and selling of the country’s currency notes were abuses of the Naira and are punishable by law.
“We all have a duty to protect the Naira as our currency forms part of the symbols of our national identity. The Command thereby appealed to the General Public to report any person or group of persons seen abusing the Naira to the Police or any law enforcement agency. “