Police clamp down on money sprayers, arrest 6 women for selling new Naira notes at parties
Six women have been apprehended for selling new Naira notes at Lagos parties.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of SCIID, Bolaji Salami, said selling of new notes goes against CBN policy.
The women were identified as: Fausat Jimoh, Bisoye Oyegbile, Balikis Ajadi, Bisola Amoru, Abidemi Oladejo and Ajoke Suraj.
“It contravenes the CBN Act. We arrested six suspects the previous weekend and later arrested six others on Friday. We recovered N35,500 from these suspects but N465,000 was recovered from those arrested last week,” Salami said.
“They would be charged to court as soon as possible. Investigation would reveal how they come about these new currencies. We are going to get to the root of it because the offence is punishable by N50,000 fine, or six months imprisonment or both. No good country would allow its currency to be abused in anyway.”
A CBN official said they would go after commercial banks who make the fresh mints available to the sellers.
People who spray money at parties will also be arrested.
He said, “We know that these are not the real targets because if they don’t get the mint notes, they won’t be able to sell it. So, our main targets are commercial banks and even our staff who release the money to these vendors.
“We are also going to start arresting Nigerians who organise events and allow those selling naira notes in their venues. Already, we have started arresting people who ‘spray’ money at social events,”
One of the arrested women, identified as Agadi said was lured into the business after recording low patronage in her hairdressing business. She said she made N200 on each bundle of mint notes.
Another suspect, Oyegbile, said the police “steal” some of their money under the guise of arresting them.
