Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in Gombe have arrested one Zachariyya Muhammad for allegedly spraying naira notes, a practice considered an abuse of the Nigerian currency.
The arrest followed intelligence linking Muhammad to the act, which took place at G-Connect in Tunfure, Gombe.
The EFCC disclosed in a statement on Wednesday that Muhammad was identified in a video where he was seen dancing and spraying N200 notes.
According to the statement, Muhammed admitted to being the individual in the footage upon interrogation.
“Upon his arrest, he was shown a video where he was dancing and spraying Naira notes in N200 (Two Hundred Naira) denomination. He admitted to being the one in the video.
“He will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations,” the statement reads.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act, specifically Section 21, condemns various forms of naira abuse, including tampering, stepping on, tearing, spraying, and hawking.
The act prescribes penalties of at least six months imprisonment or fines starting from N50,000 for offenders.
Sub-section (3) clarifies that spraying or dancing on naira notes during social occasions is a punishable offense under Sub-section (1).
Recall that the EFCC recently went after celebrities who allegedly abused the naira.
On April 12, social media celebrity Bobrisky was sentenced to six months in prison by a federal high court in Lagos for similar offenses.
Additionally, nightlife promoter, Cubana Chief Priest faced a three-count charge from the EFCC on April 16 for abusing the naira.
Earlier in May, the EFCC in Kano secured the convictions of 31 individuals involved in illegal currency trading and naira abuse.
