The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has directed that all people involved in the sale or misuse of Naira notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria be detained and prosecuted.
He instructed the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Intelligence Bureau and the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department to put employees of the department and the bureau on high alert across the country in order to carry out the orders.
Baba stated that this was in line with the federal government’s strategy and effort to enforce the CBN Act’s 2007 provisions and elevate Nigeria’s currency.
This was disclosed in a statement released on Friday by the Force’s spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
The IGP further ordered that Sections 20 and 21 of the CBN Act, 2007, which among other things make it illegal to hawk, sell, or engage in any other sort of trade, be fully enforced by all supervisory AIGs and Commissioners of Police in charge of police commands and formations.
“And also the spraying of, dancing or matching on the Naira notes, falsifying or counterfeiting of bank notes, refusal to accept the Naira as a means of payment, tampering with the coin or note issued by the CBN,” the statement read.
Adejobi further noted that the IGP reiterated the mandate of the NPF to enforce all laws and regulations without any prejudice to the enabling Acts of other security agencies.
He also ured “all and sundry to cooperate with the police as it brings the long arm of the law to bear upon all violators of the provisions of the CBN Act, and other extant statutes in Nigeria, with a view to having a well-policed society in all ramifications within the country”.