Abuse of Nigeria’s Currency: Activist Calls For Arrest, Prosecution of Cuban, Others

While the social media and Nigerians are still relishing on the Oba Weekend frenzy that trendy as Obinna Iyiegbu (Obi Cubana) was joined by friends and well-wishers from all corners of the country and the world at large to bid farewell to his late mother in Oba, Idemili-South Local Government Area of Anambra State, the social media today went agog as an activist identified as Solomon Semaka disclosed that his lawyers are in court to commence a legal action against the owner of Cubana Club.

Infonet9ja.com gathered that the legal process by Semaka’s legal team was to compel the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Abubakar Malami and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele to prosecute those found violating relevant CBN Act (at the burial ceremony in Oba).

According to Semaka, stated that there was the need to compel relevant authorities to rise in defence of the Nigerian currency, lamented that the nation’s currency (Naira) which is an important symbol of the country should be protected against abuse in line with section 20 and 21 of the CBN Act.

“We will compel the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN and the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele to apply the law so as to discourage the emerging dangerous trajectory.

“No body is dictating how people should spend their money, but at least they should do so without violating and abusing the integrity of the Nigerian currency.

“Recall that the internet was awash with volumes of money sprayed and splashed at the said burial in Oba in apparent violation of the act protecting Nigeria’s currency.

“Those of us who could see beyond the jamboree are concerned about the integrity of our nations currency. We are worried about the social impression given to the younger ones.

“I can tell you that, a lot of young people are already unnecessarily pressured on account of such open and lavish display of money by a group of young people. This can lead many into illegal activities. Certainly, this legally and morally improper.

“This attitude, if not censored, will grow to endanger and undermine the sovereignty of Nigeria’s currency with its attendant consequences on the economy and the masses.”

Continuing, Semaka stated that “Naira is an important symbol. Its abuse is protected in section 20 and 21of the CBN Act. If you want to inspire the youth, empower them with skills acquisition, craft programmes and workshops to boost human capacity of the youth”, the statement noted.

The pro-democratic activist who was apparently irked by the manner Cubana and friends throw and spray money at events, further alleged that credible findings established that Obi Cubana and co have often been involved in the money spraying art at parties even before the trending burial.

“This intervention is not driven by personal primordial sentiments, it is about applying the law while at the same time safe guarding the moral sanity of our young people who would otherwise be misled into criminal endeavors to become rich.

“So morally and legally, Cubana and co breached the codes. It is a criminal offence to spray, mutilate or cause our currency to be abused in a manner it was done at the burial”, Semaka stated in the statement.