Naira abuse: EFCC has secured 24 convictions, currently prosecuting 200 – Spokesman

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has secured 24 convictions for naira abuse while 200 individuals are currently being prosecuted for the same offence across the country.

Head of Media & Publicity of EFCC, Dele Oyewale said this in a statement on Tuesday, April 16.

“Already, the EFCC has secured 24 convictions across the country on the issue of Naira Abuse while those facing prosecution across the Commissions’ 14 Zonal Commands and corporate headquarters are 200,” the statement read in part.

The EFCC spokesman made this known in a statement after the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu, penned a letter commending the anti-graft commission for its drive against all forms of naira abuse.

In his letter addressed to the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, the NOA boss said the actions being taken by the commission against naira abuse amount to “preservation of the integrity of the national currency, the Naira”.

“On behalf of the management and staff of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), I write to commend the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and especially the Chairman, for the recent actions of the Commission with regard to the preservation of the integrity of the National Currency, the Naira.

“The arrest of cross-dresser Idris Okuneye also known as Bobrisky over the abuse of the naira accords with our objective to stop the abuse of the naira and other national symbols,” Issa Onilu said.

Onilu expressed hope that the arrests and prosecutions would “serve as a deterrent to other Nigerians who still abuse the Naira”, and assured the EFCC of his agency’s stronger support in the initiative.

“Count on us strongly in this fight to stop the abuse of the Naira and other national symbols. It is our hope and aspiration that jointly, we shall win this fight,” he said.

Olukoyede had on February 7, 2024, raised a Special Task Force against currency racketeering, dollarisation of the Nigerian economy, abuse and mutilation of naira notes at the EFCC’s headquarters and zonal commands.