A Zamfara State commissioner under Governor Dauda Lawal has come under public criticism following the circulation of a video showing him allegedly abusing the naira, Nigeria’s national currency.
In the viral footage, Hon. Abdulmalik Abubakar Gajam, the commissioner for budget and economic planning and a member of Lawal’s cabinet, is seen throwing N500 notes into the air while a crowd scrambles to pick the money from the ground.
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The 14-second footage which is widely shared on social media platforms, has sparked outrage among Nigerians, particularly in light of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act, which criminalises the abuse, mutilation, or defacement of the naira.
Several social media users had questioned the silence of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which has in recent months prosecuted celebrities and private citizens for similar offences involving currency abuse.
When New Daily Prime contacted the spokesman of anti-graft agency, Dele Oyewale told our reporter to send him the clip for confirmation.
“Do you have the video? Send it to me on WhatsApp”, he told this newspaper. Oyewale neither acknowledged the clip nor responded to further messages sent to him.
Celebrities in Court, Politicians Walk Free Over Naira Abuse
New Daily Prime’s findings reveal that several individuals like Bobrisky and other notable celebrities were prosecuted for mutilating and abusing naira, while prominent and powerful Nigerians who violated similar laws walk freely.
Among several prosecuted celebrities include Bobrisky (Idris Okuneye) who was sentenced to six month imprisonment without option of fine in April, 2024 by Justice Abimbola Awogboro of Federal High court in Lagos over spraying of Nigeria note, the cross-dresser was charged by EFCC for spraying and mutilating naira notes at public events.
Another celebrity Cubana Chief Priest (Pascal Okechukwu) was similarly prosecuted and arraigned by the EFCC in 2024 over allegations of N500 note for spraying naira at an event. Cubana Priest eventually settled the matter by forfeiting ₦10 million and pledging to support anti-naira abuse campaigns, leading to the charges being dropped.
Similarly Nigerian comedian and actor AY (Ayo Makun) was invited by EFCC over abuse of naira on May, 5, 2025. The EFCC reportedly found no illicit link and granted him a form of pardon after investigation while on the same vein, a popular Nigerian actress, Iyabo Ojo was quizzed by the anti-graft agency over alleged naira spraying in her daughter’s wedding.
In April, 2025, a popular Lagos socialite was arrested in his home and taken to EFCC’s office in Abuja. The Lagos socialite was arrested for abusing naira and defacing foreign currency at public events. He was subsequently released the next day.
On January 5. 2025, Terry Apala (Terry Alexander Ejeh) was arraigned before Justice Akintayo Aluko of Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos and remanded for alleged naira mutilation at a social event.
Apala was arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Commission on a one-point charge of mutilating the naira note.
“Selective Law in Nigeria”, Lawyer Speak
Barr. Ishaka Ahmad, Esq, a human right lawyer from Rahama Chamber told New Daily Prime that the commission has no discretion to choose between whom to investigate nor leave out for alleged violation.
“EFCC has no discretion legally, whom to investigate or prosecute for alleged offences. Once a person violated the Law and same did not fall within the categories of persons that have immunity to appear before the Court. The EFCC must apprehend the suspect and prosecute the same without discretion”, he said over naira abuse by the Zamfara commissioner.
He further noted that spraying or throwing currency in a public is one act stipulated at the preamble of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act(2007) as “Naira abuse”.
“So once there is prima facie case before prosecuting authority and same was established before the Court of Competent Jurisdiction, the Court can do the following:
A person convicted of Naira abuse is liable to severe penalties under Section 21(1) of the CBN Act, 2007:
Imprisonment for a term of not less than six months.
A fine of not less than ₦50,000. Both such fines and imprisonment.
“Actually, there is a prima facie case against the suspect, because the act falls within the offences recognised under the Act(Spraying or throwing currency in public). As I mentioned supra the enforcement of such, has no differences between the celebrities, public office holders once such public officer did not fall within the categories of public officers that has immunity the enforcement is the same”, he concluded.
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