Naira abuse: ‘You risk imprisonment’, NOA writes Ogun monarch

The National Orientation Agency, (NOA), has written a letter to an Ogun State monarch, the Olu Owode, Oba Kolawole Sowemimo, over alleged abuse of naira.

In a viral video, Oba Sowemimo, had knitted N1000 notes in form of a long rope of naira and sprayed it on the popular Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde, at a party.

The development had generated outrage on social media with many Nigerians condemning the monarch’s action.

In a letter addressed to the monarch on Tuesday, the Director General, NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, said his action attracts imprisonment.

The letter partly reads, “The NOA has the mandate to preserve and promote the integrity of our national symbols and we are compelled to appeal to you and indeed all traditional rulers to see it as part of your duty to preserve these symbols as part of our national culture. These symbols are icons that define us as a sovereign nation and respect for them is also respect for our country.

“Section 21 (3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007 as amended stipulates 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.”