SALE, ABUSE OF NAIRA: ‘It is now time for all the nonsense to stop’, IGP appears to say as action begins

*Orders FCID, FIB, Commands to arrest, prosecute violators

*Tasks Supervising AIGs, CPs on enforcement of CBN Act

By BASHIR ADEFAKA

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, on Friday, rose to the threat posed to the security of the nation by activities of saboteurs of new naira notes programme in the country, as he ordered all that matter within the foremost security agency to swing into action against those unpatriotic elements.

Details of the order were contained in a statement by Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, dated February 3, 2023 and copy of which he sent directly to The DEFENDER.

According to the statement with Ref No. CZ.5300/FPRD/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.5/15, the Force PRO said: “In furtherance of the Federal Government’s policy and drives to uphold provisions of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, and dignify Nigeria’s currency, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, NEAPS, fdc, CFR, has ordered the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department and the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Intelligence Bureau to place officers and men of the Department and the Bureau across the nation on high alert and to carry out the arrest and subsequent prosecution of all individuals engaged in the sale or abuse of the Naira notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

Similarly, the statement continued, the IGP has charged all supervisory Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police in charge of Police Commands and Formations to carry out full enforcement of the provisions of Sections 20 and 21 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.

The DEFENDER reports that the CBN Act 2007, according to statement by the Police High Command, “criminalizes amongst other things the hawking, selling or otherwise trading, 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.”

Adejobi said, “The Inspector-General of Police reiterated the mandate of the Nigeria Police Force to enforce all laws and regulations without any prejudice to the enabling Acts of other security agencies and urged all and sundry to cooperate with the Nigeria Police Force 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.”