•Parade naira hawkers in Lagos
By Christopher Oji
In a fresh bid to end the abuse of the naira, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in collaboration with the Nigeria Police, has begun a major onslaught against perpetrators of the act, arresting no fewer than 12 vendors of naira notes in Lagos.
The vendors, who were women, were apprehended in different parts of the metropolis selling naira notes to partygoers. The suspects were apprehended during a raid by officials of the CBN and operatives of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) Panti, Yaba, Lagos. They were alleged to be involved in the sale of naira notes in mint condition, an offence that contravenes Section 21 of the CBN Act, 2007.
Among the suspects were Fausat Jimoh, Bisoye Oyegbile, Balikis Ajadi, Bisola Amoru, Abidemi Oladejo and Ajoke Suraj, all alleged to have sold mint notes at social gatherings.
Parading the suspects, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of the SCIID, Salami, said six others were apprehended penultimate weekend.
He said: “We are clamping down on those abusing our currency. It is an offence to sell naira notes at weddings or at any gathering. It contravenes the CBN Act. We arrested six suspects the previous weekend and today, (Friday), we have arrested six others.
“We recovered N35,500 from these suspects but N465,000 was recovered from those arrested last week. They would be charged to court as soon as possible.
“Investigation would reveal how these suspects come about these new currencies. We are going to get to the root of it because the offence is punishable by N50,000 fine or six months imprisonment, or both.
“No good country would allow its currency to be abused in any way. That’s what we are guarding against. The CBN is out to enforce the law and we will give them the necessary backing.”
An official of the CBN who refused to be named said the apex bank was targeting its workers and deposit money banks, as those fuelling the illegal trade.
Aside from going after the vendors, he stated that the CBN would also apprehend hosts of events where naira merchants are found.
He said: “We know that these are not the real targets because, if they don’t get the mint notes, they won’t be able to sell it. So, our main targets are commercial banks and even our staff who release the notes to these vendors. Once these suspects confess and mention their names, we would go after them.
“We are also going to start arresting Nigerians who organise events and allow those selling naira notes in their venues. Already, we have started arresting people who spray money at social events. Sanity must return to our system and our currency must be respected,” he said.
While admitting to the crime, one of the suspects, Ajadi, said low patronage of her hair-dressing business pushed her into it. She claimed that she usually made N200 on each bundle of mint notes.
Oyegbile, who was arrested at Agbado, Lagos, said N37,500 was collected from her, an amount higher than the total recovery for Friday stated by the police. She claimed that the enforcers usually stole some of the money each time they came after them.
Asked how she got the notes, Oyegbile said one Abdulahi usually supplied her, adding that some of her colleagues got theirs from banks.