By Uzoma Akobundu
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has moved to stop the abuse of the Naira at parties by those who spray the currency at parties and has mobilised law enforcement agencies nationwide to deal with offenders.
Naira
As a warning, those found spraying money in parties across Nigeria are liable to be jailed or pay N50,000 fine.
Also, those found hawking Naira notes risk jail sentence or N50,000 fine or both.
A new directive from CBN said mobile courts have been deployed nationwide for the purpose of summarily trying those bastardising the national currency.
The committee said those who “spray” naira notes at parties risk going to jail for six months or earning a fine of N50,000 after trial by mobile courts that would be deployed nationwide.
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) spokesman Isaac Okorafor said the police and the Ministry of Justice would be involved in the operation.
Okoroafor said: “If a celebrant is dancing and you spray him/her, you may go to jail from the party venue because the law enforcement agents will be there, waiting to arrest you.
“It is the duty of law enforcement agencies to catch offenders and take them to court. Our collaboration with the police will intensify as we move to implement the mobile court for offenders.”
On how Nigerians can use cash as gift, Okorafor said: “If you want to give, put the money in an envelope, and give it the celebrant. Let’s know that anybody hawking and writing on the naira will face six months in jail or N50,000 or both.”