Woman Arrested for Spraying Naira Notes by EFCC
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Gombe State has arrested a woman named Janty Emmanuel for allegedly abusing the Nigerian currency. Emmanuel’s arrest on May 20, 2024, followed intelligence reports that she was seen spraying Naira notes at a social event.
Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s Head of Media & Publicity, confirmed the arrest in a statement released on Tuesday. The statement mentioned that Emmanuel was shown a video of herself at G-Connect in Tumfure, Gombe State, where she was spraying N1,000 notes while dancing. She admitted to the offense and will be charged to court once the investigation is complete.
This incident is part of an ongoing crackdown by the EFCC on currency abuse. In April 2024, the Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced social media influencer Idris Olarewaju Okuneye, known as Bobrisky, to six months in prison without the option of a fine for a similar offense. Justice Abimbola Awogboro emphasized that the sentence was meant to deter others from abusing the naira. Bobrisky had pleaded ignorance of the law, but the judge reiterated that ignorance is no excuse.
In a separate case, celebrity barman Pascal Okechukwu, known as Cubana Chief Priest, reached an out-of-court settlement with the EFCC over charges of currency abuse. Okechukwu was accused of spraying and tampering with naira notes during a social event at Eko Hotel in Lagos. He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail set at N10 million.
