IGP Usman Baba orders arrest of people selling naira notes

Usman Baba, the Inspector General of Police, has ordered senior officials in the Force to send their troops out into the streets to apprehend those who are misusing and selling naira.

The IGP further ordered the prosecution of those detained, saying that the action furthered the Federal Government's strategy and initiatives to maintain the requirements of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, and to elevate the value of the Naira.

In recent days, many Nigerians have experienced naira scarcity and have found it challenging to withdraw money from ATMs and banking facilities.

Some people have been taking advantage of the turmoil to sell Nigerian citizens goods at exorbitant prices.

Baba had 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 deploy officers and men from the Bureau and the Department across the country 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.”

He said the IGP had also 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 which 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.”

He added, “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.”

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