The abuse of the naira — the Nigerian currency — is deemed a criminal offense, punishable under the law. Section 21(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007 (as amended) stipulates that “spraying of, dancing or matching on the naira or any note issued by the bank during social occasions or otherwise howsoever shall constitute an abuse and defacing of the naira or such note and shall be punishable under the law by fines or imprisonment or both”.
Despite countless warnings by the apex bank, spraying of naira notes at social gatherings had continued without sanctions for many years. It has been seen as a tradition in many parts of Nigeria.
But last year, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is a key collaborator with the CBN on the “unpatriotic practice”, wielded the big stick on Simi Gold, the actress, in what happened to be a landmark case of naira abuse.
Gold was arrested in February 2023 after a video of her spraying and stepping on the naira notes at a party surfaced online. She was sentenced to six months in prison in February 2024. The court, however, handed down the sentence with an option of a N300,000 fine.
A few weeks after Gold’s court case, Bobrisky, the crossdresser, was arrested in Lagos for defacing the naira notes. Last Friday, Bobrisky was sentenced to six months in prison. The sentence was without the option of bail.
While tongues were wagging on social media over the nature of Bobrisky’s sentence, the anti-graft filed a three-count charge against Cubana Chief Priest, the nightlife promoter, for alleged abuse of the Nigerian currency.
Cubana, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges on Wednesday. Kehinde Ogundare, a judge of the federal high court in Lagos, thereafter granted him bail in the sum of N10 million with two responsible sureties in like sum. The case was also adjourned.
Last Sunday, the commission warned that many more celebrities will be prosecuted, adding that it is investigating those who may have been involved in currency abuse.
Watch the videos below.
Wizkid
In December 2023, revealed that he would distribute the sum of N100 million to the kids for Christmas.
While doing so, the singer was seen spraying wads of cash on the streets of Lagos while inside his lush automobile.
The ‘Ojuelegba’ hitmaker was also seen throwing money during his mother’s burial that took place in October last year.
Portable
The ‘Zazoo Zeh’ singer is known for his philanthropy, especially on the streets of Sango-Ota, his hometown in Ogun. He has been spotted throwing money into the air on several occasions during his visit home.
Kanayo O Kanayo
In 2021, the ace Nollywood actor was spotted at a party during the Christmas festivities in Imo state. To celebrate the festivities, he sprayed money into the air as people danced around him.
Asake
The ‘Joha’ singer was also seen throwing money into the air at a party hosted by Yhemolee a few months ago.
Asake took the wads of minted N500 notes, removed the currency straps, and flung the notes into the air from the roof of the building where he stood.
Eniola Badmus
Badmus was sighted at a party alongside Bobrisky tossing money at Mega 99, the gospel juju musician, while he was performing at an event some years ago.
Former president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Charles Oputa, better known as Charly Boy, has celebrated the engagement of his daughter, Adaeze, to her female partner.
The popular musician, also famously known as Area Fada, shared a video from the engagement ceremony on his Instagram page, describing Adaeze and her partner as his “beautiful Princess and her Husband.”
“Folks, wish dem well for me,” he wrote.
Adaeze also announced the engagement in a separate Instagram post, sharing a photograph of herself with her partner.
“WE’RE ENGAGED!” she wrote, using the hashtag #mrsandmrs.
She described the engagement as the beginning of a lifetime together, expressing excitement about their future.
“Here’s to a lifetime of love, laughter, growth, and making beautiful memories together. I can’t wait for everything God has in store for us. Forever sounds even sweeter with you,” she added.
The announcement has attracted mixed reactions from social media users.
Igho Ubiribo, a Nigerian-British businessman and social media influencer, has reportedly died after undergoing a penis enlargement procedure during a luxury trip to Thailand.
According to findings from an inquest in the United Kingdom, 43-year-old Ubiribo died after the cosmetic treatment triggered a fatal pulmonary embolism.
The businessman, who was also known as “Tiny”, “Denisi” and “Ego”, was on holiday in Bangkok with his wife, Danielle Simba Allen, when he decided to undergo the procedure.
Reports from the inquest revealed that doctors injected about 40 millilitres of hyaluronic acid and lidocaine into his penis at an unnamed clinic in Thailand in March.
After the procedure, Ubiribo and his wife reportedly returned to their Marriott hotel, where they went for a massage.
It was during the massage that he complained of chest pain before collapsing and losing consciousness.
He was rushed to Sukhumvit Hospital, where he was initially able to respond to medical staff.
His wife reportedly informed doctors that he had recently undergone penis filler injections, prompting concerns that the procedure may have been linked to his condition.
Medical personnel suspected a pulmonary embolism and recommended further scans, but Ubiribo reportedly lost consciousness before the examination could be completed.
Doctors later transferred him to intensive care, where attempts were made to revive him through prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
He was pronounced dead in the early hours of March 6.
A postmortem examination conducted in the UK later reportedly found material in Ubiribo’s lungs consistent with the hyaluronic acid used during the penis filler procedure.
Pathologist John du Parcq told the inquest that the substance discovered matched the material injected during the cosmetic treatment.
He said the findings supported the conclusion that Ubiribo suffered a pulmonary embolism caused by the procedure.
The coroner, Jean Harkin, subsequently ruled that the businessman’s death was caused by a pulmonary embolism linked to the cosmetic injection.
A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot or other material blocks a blood vessel supplying the lungs, potentially causing sudden breathing difficulties, heart strain and death.
During the inquest, information from Ubiribo’s doctor in London showed that he had previously undergone joint surgeries and had been described as pre-diabetic and suffering from gout.
However, his doctor reportedly said he had no other major medical conditions.
Penis fillers containing hyaluronic acid are marketed as a non-surgical option for increasing girth, but medical experts have warned that injectable cosmetic procedures can carry serious risks if complications occur.
Ubiribo was known for showcasing his luxury lifestyle on social media, where he had about 185,000 Instagram followers.
Reports said he owned a home in Los Angeles valued at about $1.1 million and a London apartment reportedly worth around $600,000.
He married Zimbabwean fashion designer Danielle Simba Allen in a lavish ceremony in 2022.
Following his death, Ubiribo was buried in London in a gold coffin, with reports claiming the funeral arrangement cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Afrobeats singer Davido, who was described as a childhood friend of the businessman, attended the funeral and paid tribute to him.
The case has renewed attention on the potential dangers associated with cosmetic procedures involving injectable fillers, after medical evidence linked the treatment to the fatal complication.
For 68-year-old British citizen, Dawn Ottewell, it was literally love at first sight after she hooked up with 31-year-old Nigerian, Bright Emokpae on a popular dating App, Tinder.
But what began as a love story conceived in heaven and consummated on earth has ended in heartbreak and a desperate search for answers.
At the beginning, Dawn, who obviously was consumed by love, quickly made efforts to facilitate Emokpae’s movement to the United Kingdom after their wedding.
But soon after he arrived in the UK on a spousal visa Emokpae disappeared into thin air. At the beginning, Dawn probably believed her new husband had simply stepped out and would be back soon.
But it soon dawned on her that new husband wouldn’t be coming back any time soon.
In a story published in the UK Sun, the love-struck 68-year-old said she met the Edo State born Bright when she was at the lowest ebb in 2021 and he brightened her life with love.
At the time, Bright Emokpae was reportedly a student in Cyprus and Dawn went on a visit. The couple eventually got married in 2022.
In 2023 Bright was in Nigeria to complete formalities for his visa to the UK courtesy of papers filed by Dawn and he relocated thereafter.
Shortly after his arrival, Dawn claimed that Bright became withdrawn and was always asking for money from her and added nothing to the sustenance of the home.
The pair separated but reunited in October 2023. According to Dawn, Bright reconciled with her because she received a £63,000 settlement following a botched NHS prolapse operation. But he bolted from their home once again.
Not willing to put up with Emokpae’s flight from home any more, Dawn wants a divorce but her man cannot be located to sign the papers with Dawn speculating that he may have relocated to Scotland.
“He’s done a runner and is refusing to sign the divorce papers because I believe he wants to cling on to his spouse visa,” she said.
But Dawn’s main worry is that if she dies before the divorce papers are signed Bright could inherit her estate. “My biggest fear is that I’ll die before this is sorted out and he’ll run off with the money my three children should inherit,” she said.
She says she feels Bright simply used her to get into the UK and she’s appealing for help to locate him.
“I feel I’m being used,” Ottewell said.
She added, “I would advise people to be very careful who they marry, especially when the person is from abroad, because a lot of them are just doing it for a visa, and then they disappear.”
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