EFCC invites Okoya’s sons to report on January 13
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Public pressure has prompted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to invite Subomi and Wahab, sons of Lagos billionaire industrialist Razaq Okoya, for interrogation over a viral video allegedly showing them abusing naira, a crime for which only Bobrisky has been jailed in recent years.
The invite signed by EFCC Lagos Directorate acting Director Michael Wetkas asked the men to report to its head, special operations team at the 15A Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos office by 10am on January 13.
The Okoya brothers have been in the news for “abusing the naira” in a promotional video for a new song.
The video – which features a police officer holding wads of N1,000 notes as the boys encircled to a tune – elicited outrage on social media.
Police Force Headquarters spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi announced on Friday that the officer seen in the video has been arrested and detained and would face disciplinary action for unethical conduct.
“The policeman captured in the recent viral video shared by the sons of the Lagos businessman, Chief Okoya, where they were abusing the naira, has been identified and detained for disciplinary action,” Adejobi posted on X (Twitter).
“The involvement of the policeman has been condemned, as it’s unethical. We will always strive hard to uphold the sanctity, credibility, and core values of the police.”
The EFCC in 2024 ramped up its clampdown of naira abuse by celebritries, citing Section 21 of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act which makes it a crime.
It arrested crossdresser Bobrisky on 4 April 2024 for defacing naira notes and arraigned him on a six-count charge.
Bobrisky was jailed six months but reportedly spent less than half the time outside Kirikiri Maximum Prison in Lagos where he was supposed to serve our the sentence.
After his release from prison, he left Nigeria for Germany to “clear his head and have peace of mind,” as he put it.
The EFCC on 16 April 2024 filed a three-count charge against Cubana Chief Priest, a socialite and social media influencer, over alleged naira abuse. But he got a soft landing.
The man reportedly did a plea bargain with the crime buster which let him off the hook on condition he would use his social media influence to campaign against naira abuse.
Other cases of alleged naira abuse surfaced with videos around the time of the two arrests, including that of Folashade, daughter of President Bola Tinubu. The EFCC did not bother about them, despite public demand for action.
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