Governor’s Aide Filmed Abusing Naira At Commissioner’s Coronation
The video captures Buhari and his associates dancing to a performance by a Nigerian Fuji musician, who was praising the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Engr. Yakubu Salihu-Danladi, as the “incoming Governor of Kwara State.”
The Adviser to the Kwara State Governor on Social Investment, Sadiq Buhari, has been caught on video abusing the Nigerian currency, naira, during a traditional coronation ceremony on December 12, 2024.
The event, which took place in Ojoku, Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State, was organised to celebrate Mr Abdulqowiyu Olodo, the state’s Commissioner for Works.
In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, Buhari, a former Commissioner for Communication, was seen spraying naira notes alongside other notable figures, including Mr Ojo Olayiwola Oyebode, Deputy Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, and Fatimah Asabe Jiya, the Local Government Development Officer for Patigi Local Government.
The video captures Buhari and his associates dancing to a performance by a Nigerian Fuji musician, who was praising the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Engr. Yakubu Salihu-Danladi, as the “incoming Governor of Kwara State.”
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The Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) noted that the act of spraying naira, is a violation of Nigerian currency regulations.
Also, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act, defacing or mishandling the naira is an offence punishable by law.
Section 21(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007 (As amended) stipulates that “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 the law by fines or imprisonment or both.”
Similarly, Section 21(4) states: “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.”
Accordingly, the CBN is collaborating with the Nigeria Police, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to address the unpatriotic practice.
Meanwhile, when SaharaReporters contacted Sadiq Buhari, the Adviser to the Kwara State Governor on Social Investment, he confirmed that he was aware of the video.
He said, “I think I am very aware of the video you are talking about, number one.
“And number two, I could recall very well that in that video, I was handing over money from my hand to other persons and directly. I am not aware of any video where I sprayed naira, drop naira on the ground or put it on anybody’s face or body.”
“In the video I am aware of, it was the direct transfer of money from my aunt to another person,” he added.
On April 2024, SaharaReporters reported that the Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday convicted controversial cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky over abuse of the naira.
Bobrisky earlier pleaded guilty to four counts of abuse of the naira and money laundering preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Abimbola Awogboro.
Bobrisky was originally arraigned on six counts but two of the charges were dropped following a discussion between the parties involved.
Earlier on Friday, SaharaReporters reported that the Nigerian police had arrested an officer involved in a viral video featuring the sons of Lagos billionaire industrialist, Chief Rasaq Okoya, abusing the naira.
In a statement released on Friday via his X handle, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the arrest and detention of the police officer seen in the video.
He stated that the officer had been identified and would face disciplinary action.
Adejobi condemned the officer’s involvement in the incident, describing it as unethical and unprofessional.
However, no mention was made of any action against Okoya’s sons, who appeared to be the main perpetrators of the naira abuse in the viral footage.
The abuse of the naira remains a violation of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) regulations, which prohibit the mishandling or spraying of currency during public events.
