The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended three individuals following the circulation of a viral video showing the mutilation of the Nigerian Naira. The suspects were arrested in Maiduguri, Borno State, for using a ₦500 note in a manner deemed disrespectful to the national currency.
The Viral Offence
The investigation was triggered by a video that gained significant traction on social media platforms. The footage depicted the suspects using a ₦500 note to clean mucus from their noses, an act that violates the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act regarding the abuse and mutilation of the Naira.
Identification and Arrest
The suspects have been identified as:
- Adam Muhammad
- Muhammad Muhammad
- Bashir Musa
According to a statement released on Thursday by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, the commission’s operatives traced the individuals to the Maiduguri metropolis following a digital investigation into the source of the video.
Legal Consequences
The trio is currently being held at the EFCC’s Maiduguri detention facility. The commission has confirmed that a full investigation is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the video.
“The trio is currently in custody at its Maiduguri detention facility, where investigations are ongoing,” Oyewale stated. The EFCC further noted that the suspects will be charged to court once the investigation is concluded.
Crackdown on Currency Abuse
This arrest is part of a broader, ongoing effort by the EFCC and the CBN to curb the public abuse of the Naira. Authorities have repeatedly warned that actions such as spraying, dancing on, or defacing the currency are punishable by law, as they undermine the dignity of the nation’s legal tender.
Source: EFCC
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