• Says It’s Up to CBN to Take Action Over Naira-Dollar Abuse

• Safiu Kehinde

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has reacted over the viral video of the state’s Asset Recovery chairman, Kelly Okungbowa, who was spotted spraying Naira notes on strippers at a social event.

As captured in the video shared on X on Sunday, the strippers flaunted their before the impressed Asset Recovery boss, who in acknowledgement of the dancers performance, sprayed wads of Naira notes on them.

Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) 2007 Act, Section 21(3), stated that spraying of, dancing or matching on the Naira or any note issued by the Bank during social occasions or otherwise constitute an abuse and defacing of the Naira or such note and shall be punishable under Sub-section (1) of this section.

Okungbowa’s violation of the CBN Act had generated backlash from members of the public.

In a telephone conversation with NPO Reports, Fred Itua, the Chief Press Secretary to the Edo state governor, confirmed that the state government is aware of the video.

Itua, however, held that the prosecution of the official is not under the state government’s jurisdiction but the CBN’s responsibility.

He disclosed that the state government has suspended the activities of the Public Response Team’s (PRS) also headed by Okungbowa.

“It is the duty of the CBN to prosecute over abuse of Naira. For the state government, they have seen the video and at the right time will take a position on it.

“But the body that he held, PSR, their activities has been suspended by the governor. But regarding the prosecution or otherwise, that is within the jurisdiction of the CBN.”