Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, the Paramount Ruler of Iwoland, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to carry out thorough public awareness campaigns on naira abuse before resorting to arrests.
Oluwo said many Nigerian people are ignorant of the acts constituting naira abuse, urging the anti-graft agency to embark on massive publicity in the media to educate Nigerians before enforcing penalties.
The Osun monarch made this in a statement through his Press Secretary, Alli Ibraheem, on Wednesday.
The statement might not be unconnected with the recent arrest and arraignment of Nigerian socialite, Pascal Okechukwu popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest.
Vanguard earlier reported that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (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.
Oba Akanbi, in a statement, commended the EFCC in its efforts to fight corruption, but advocated for caution in the arrest of people over naira abuse.
According to the traditional ruler, the habit of spraying naira notes is rampant among the Yorubas and Igbos most especially at cultural wedding, naming and burial ceremonies.
He noted it has become a cultural habit in the two tribes with a very few exceptions.
The statement read, “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.”
Last week, the popular crossdresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, was jailed for six months over mutilation of naira.
