Mutilation of Naira: Anambra Lawyer Tells EFCC to Go after Banks, Currency Traders

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

An Anambra lawyer, Mr. Anthony Agbasiere, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to beam its searchlight on banks and people who trade Nigeria’s currency in public events.

The lawyer said that doing so would reduce the rate at which people abuse the Naira at public events, and would be more rewarding to do than going after people spraying the Naira note at social events.

Agbasiere said: “Let the EFCC go after those selling and stealing naira and not dissipating their energy on people spraying Naira just as they did to the controversial cross-dresser Idris Olanrewaju Okuneye popularly known as Bobrisky.

“Bobrisky is currently serving a six months imprisonment without an option of fine for abusing the Nigerian currency, naira, but I see people do worse.

“There is nothing wrong in spraying money, it is just an act done while in a happy mood.

“Currency is been sprayed across the globe, even in the United State of America, people also spray dollar there without any arrest let alone arraignment. 

“The US dollar has more value than naira. So the government should pursue substance and leave shadow.

“I do not blame EFCC entirely for discharging their statutory duty rather I blame the National Assembly whose job is to make laws for good governance, law and order in the country.

“The National Assembly members are there spending much time over unnecessary things.

“This is a misplacement of priority. The lawmakers should focus more on things that will move the country forward.

“I have been advocating and I challenge the members of the National Assembly, if they claim they are patriotic, let them make election rigging and embezzlement of public fund capital offence (death sentence), which I strongly believe that with these two laws, Nigeria will be better for all of us.”