Imagine a crisp naira note, a symbol of national pride, being crumpled, defaced, or worse, sprayed like confetti at a party.
This blatant disrespect for the country’s currency, termed under the law as “Naira abuse,” has been a persistent problem in Nigeria.
But a recent high-profile case involving social media personality Bobrisky has sparked a crucial conversation: is ignorance of the law an excuse for such actions?
On Thursday, April 4, 2024, social media was awash with the news of the arrest of the controversial Crossdresser Idris Olarewaju, aka Bobrisky.
Arrested, detained, and charged by the country’s anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Bobrisky was made to face the law for abusing the naira notes at the premiere of Ajakaju – Beast of Two Worlds, a movie by Eniola Ajao.
Following Bobrisky’s arrest, the anti-graft agency arraigned him before the Federal High Court in Lagos State on Friday, where Justice Abimbola Awogboro convicted him.
Bobrisky, in his plea, told the Judge that he had no prior knowledge of the law on abuse of Naira and that if given a second chance, he would use his social media page with over 5 million followers to educate fellow Nigerians. But Justice Awogboro objected to the plea, saying ignorance of the law was not an excuse.
While the controversial Crossdresser might not be aware of the laws on abuse of naira and the punishments reserved for its abusers, as he made Justice Awogboro understand, the truth remains that many Nigerians are also ignorant of the deed partly because no highly placed person has been punished on account of naira mutilation.
Double standard
For instance, in 2020, PUNCH reported that the naira notes were mutilated at the wedding of Hanan Buhari, the daughter of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Similarly, in 2020, Sahara Reporters revealed that wads of naira notes were abused at the wedding ceremony of Abdul Aziz Malami, the son of Nigeria’s Former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN).
Two years after, Guardian Nigerian News reported that Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, an actress, was arrested by the EFCC for spraying and matching naira notes at an event.
While those who abused the naira notes at Buhari and Malami‘s children’s weddings walked scot-free on account of their power and influence, Omoseyin was sentenced by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State.
Huge cost
A report by Nairametrics in 2021 showed the true cost of naira abuse extends beyond disrespect.
Damaged notes become unusable, forcing the Central Bank of Nigeria to spend millions reprinting them.
In 2020 alone, the CBN disposed of a staggering N698,480 million in unfit banknotes, a direct consequence of abuse.
The CBN had to destroy or recycle them. But these processes cost the country fortunes. Some financial experts have said millions of naira go into reprinting unfit naira notes.
Preventing the constant naira abuse, Section 21(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007 (As amended) warned 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) frowned on selling naira at social occasions.
However, despite warnings and campaigns from the authorities, naira abuse persists, becoming a recurring eyesore.
Bobrisky’s conviction will serve as a timely reminder that individuals, regardless of their status in society, will always face the full wrath of the law.
More effort required
Combatting naira abuse requires a two-pronged approach. Public education campaigns must raise awareness about the legal repercussions and the financial impact of disrespecting the currency.
Simultaneously, consistent enforcement of the existing laws is essential. Only when both education and accountability are addressed can we ensure the naira is treated with the respect it deserves
Most importantly, those who find comfort in abusing the country’s currency must look before they leap becasue, ignorance of the law, as they say, is not an excuse.
