The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, has said a cultural spirit makes Yorubas spray money uncontrollably at parties.
Akanbi said the spraying of money at parties is cultural for Yoruba and Igbo.
In a statement by Alli Ibrahim, his press secretary, Oluwo described the recent onslaught by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, against people who abuse the naira as a misplaced priority.
Oluwo charged EFCC operatives to undertake a comprehensive enlightenment for Nigerians on naira handling before enforcing penalties.
The statement reads: “There is a cultural spirit in Yoruba that forces you to spend money uncontrollably at your exciting moment. I’m sure the spirit will be tamed when people have public knowledge of possible penalties for naira abuse. The commission should not place the cart before the horse.
“The recent litigations by the EFCC against naira abuse is a misplaced priority. The practice of spraying money is more cultural for the Yorubas and Igbos. There is a cultural spirit in Yoruba that forces you to spend money uncontrollably at your exciting moment. I’m sure the spirit will be tamed when people have public knowledge of possible penalties for naira abuse. The commission should not place the cart before the horse.
“EFCC should use both print and electronic media to enlighten the public on those acts constituting naira abuse and spell out penalties. The public knowledge will unavoidably caution individuals and empower the commission to identify and punish arrogant naira abusers.”
In a bid to punish naira abusers, EFCC had convicted popular cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, aka Bobrisky.
Similarly, the anti-graft agency arraigned business entrepreneur Pascal Okechukwu, also known as Cubana Chief Priest, on a three-count charge bordering on naira abuse before a Lagos High Court.
