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Friday, January 10, 2025

Police ignore Okoya’s son abusing naira notes at Lagos party, arrest orderly passing wads instead

The EFCC has remained silent on the matter.

• January 10, 2025
Screenshot of Okoya's son abusing naira
Screenshot of Okoya’s son abusing naira [Credit; The Sun]

The police on Friday announced that an orderly attached to billionaire’s son Raheem Okoya and captured on video holding wads of N1,000 mints for the young lad has been “detained for disciplinary action” for naira abuse, making no mention of Mr Okoya, the major culprit caught on camera dancing with the currency notes in flagrant violation of CBN Act.

Against a CBN law that frowns on and imprisons violators of the naira, Mr Okoya flaunted bundles of the new naira notes in a video that went viral across all social media platforms, including TikTok and Instagram. 

The orderly held the bundles while Okoya and his friend, at intervals, took one or two wads to spray and show off as they danced to loud music in what appeared to be a living room.

Police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi disclosed that the orderly who did not spray the notes has already been arrested and will be internally prosecuted for his actions while remaining silent on the actions of Mr Okoya and his friend.

“The policeman captured in the recent viral video shared by the sons of the Lagos businessman, Chief Okoya, where they were abusing the naira,  has been identified and detained for disciplinary action,” Mr Adejobi said on Friday. “The involvement of the policeman has been condemned, as it’s unethical. We will always strive hard to uphold the sanctity, credibility, and core values of the police.”

The statement has sparked outrage among Nigerians, igniting debates on X on what users considered selective justice that shields the affluent and scapegoats ordinary citizens.

Crossdresser Idris ‘Bobrisky’ Okuneye was speedily prosecuted in March 2024 and sentenced to six months in prison without option of a fine over the same offence, naira abuse. The prosecution lasted only nine days, which included a public holiday and a weekend.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, known to issue public statements and charge suspects of naira abuse to court, has remained silent on the matter.

EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyawale did not immediately return comments on whether the billionaire’s son would face the same fate like Bobrisky.

Rasaq Okoya, owner of the Eleganza group of companies that makes plastic chairs, tables, flasks, pens and so on, is a friend of President Bola Tinubu. He has been featured on Forbes for his influence and affluence.

His son Raheem, who wants to build a career in content creation and music, has used the money to push his songs, creating challenges that included winning a Rolls Royce , but so far, his songs have not received much acclaim from listeners.

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