Prominent Nollywood actor Deyemi Okanlawon has sparked debate after challenging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over its high-profile crackdown on celebrities accused of abusing the naira, arguing that the agency’s priorities appear misplaced in a nation grappling with systemic corruption.
Speaking during a recent interview on ‘Nollywood On Radio’ Okanlawon offered a nuanced critique of the EFCC’s enforcement of laws against “spraying” or mishandling the national currency at social events.
While acknowledging the importance of respecting the naira, he questioned the agency’s disproportionate targeting of entertainers while high-level graft by political and corporate elites often goes unaddressed.
Okanlawon began by addressing cultural norms, stating, “Two things: I think that because something is cultural does not make it right. We have a culture that does not really emphasize the maintenance of things.”
He drew parallels between the treatment of the naira and Nigeria’s broader societal neglect of infrastructure and public resources, suggesting that the EFCC’s campaign could be interpreted as a symbolic call for national pride. “They are saying, ‘Have respect for the naira, have respect for your country’—maybe that is the way to do it,”he conceded.
However, the actor quickly pivoted to the heart of his argument: the glaring disparity in accountability. “The second thing is that I also think there are so many issues with corruption and crime going on in the country across different segments of people.”
He emphasized, noting that the EFCC’s recent prosecutions of celebrities like cross-dressing influencer Bobrisky and socialite Cubana Chiefpriest—both convicted for naira mutilation—feel “a bit too much in the light of everything else we are trying to deal with.”
Okanlawon underscored a growing public skepticism toward the anti-graft agency, which has long faced accusations of selective justice.
If every day we hear about corrupt officials, politicians, or organizations being brought down by the agency, we’d be more likely to trust that they’re acting in our best interest, he argued. “Then, if they ask us to stop something like spraying money, we’d likely obey without question because we’d trust that the agency has the moral right to make such requests.”
His comments reflect widespread frustration among Nigerians, many of whom view the EFCC’s celebrity-focused actions as performative amid sluggish progress in prosecuting politically connected figures.
In recent months, the agency has summoned multiple high-profile entertainers, including actress Iyabo Ojo and comedian AY Makun, for allegedly spraying naira notes at parties—a practice outlawed under the Central Bank of Nigeria’s 2007 policy to prevent currency abuse.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
The EFCC’s crackdown, which has intensified since early 2024, has ignited a national conversation about the line between cultural expression and legal compliance.
Spraying money at weddings and celebrations is a longstanding tradition in Nigeria, seen as a gesture of goodwill and appreciation.
However, the arguements is that the EFCC’s sporadic enforcement risks alienating the public without addressing root causes of economic instability, such as embezzlement and money laundering.
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