Admin l Friday, October 05, 2018
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) has threatened to send couples to jail if they continue to allow their wedding to be used as an occasion to abuse the Naira. Acting Director of Communication, Mr. Isaac Okorafor who made the revelation on a radio programme(Star Fm) in Lagos said it will not be good for couples who are just getting married to be sent to jail from the wedding venue.
He said Nigerians should not disrespect the Naira notes by spraying them on people, dancing and stumping on them. According to him, it is the same people who dance on the Naira notes that turn around to complain that the Nigerian Naira is dirty. He advised that rather than spraying Naira notes and dancing on them, those who have money to give to the couples can put the money inside envelope and hand it to the couple or put the money nicely in a tray that is passed around guest on such occasion.
He said the CBN Act of 2007 prohibits abuse of the Naira and that it prescribes jail term of up to six months or with an option of N50,000 fine or both. He said the bank has empowered mobil courts across Nigeria to take up issues of abuse of the Naira. Okoroafor said very soon the bank will begin sting operations across the country to arrest culprits.
“Abuse of the naira is criminalized with appropriate sanctions. The objective of this section is to promote confidence in the usage of the Naira notes and coins as a medium of exchange. It is also aimed at increasing their active life and prevent the public from refusing to accept the Naira. The criminalized abuses of the naira include selling and buying of Naira notes and coins and scattering the Naira at social functions”, says, the CBN Act, 2007.
Okorafor called on those selling clean Naira notes to desist, adding that those found selling the notes will be arrested and the money found on them forfeited to the state.
