Due to a widely shared video of Edo official Kelly Okungbowa dousing exotic dancers in naira, a CSO has petitioned the EFCC.
Will everyone be treated equally under the law? After a video showed Kelly Okungbowa, a senior Edo State government official, spraying naira notes on two exotic dancers went viral, a civil society organization called Concerned Edo Youth petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to look into his alleged naira abuse.
As the State Coordinator of the Public Safety Response Team (PSR) and Chairman of the Edo State Asset Recovery Committee, Okungbowa is a close ally of Governor Monday Okpebholo.
The video, which surfaced over the weekend, shows him throwing wads of cash while two skimpily dressed ladies dance about him and rub the notes against their bodies.
The CBN Act of 2007 makes it illegal to misuse naira notes, such as by treading on them, spraying them, or handling them improperly. Criminals risk a fine of ₦50,000, six months in jail, or both. This law has already been applied against private persons by authorities.
Actress Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin was sentenced to six months in prison in February 2024 for stepping on naira bills. Socialite Bobrisky was given a similar term in May 2024, and businessman Cubana Chief Priest, who was prosecuted later that year, settled out of court. Comrade Joseph Gbale, the group’s head, charged that the government applied unfair financial regulations.
“These people harass traders and motorists in the name of public safety while engaging in the same reckless behavior behind closed doors,” Gbale said. “Will the EFCC act, or is the law only for the poor?”
Citing prior instances in which private persons were held legally accountable for comparable actions, the petition, which was delivered to the EFCC’s Benin Zonal Office, demands swift prosecution. As his administration struggles with scandals, declining public support, and an upcoming tribunal verdict on his hotly contested election, Governor Okpebholo is going through a tough moment.
His administration is still in shock at the Public Safety Response Team’s suspension following the untimely death of Gift Kelly Osahon, age two. In addition to the attorney general’s recent suspension due to corruption charges, Okpebholo’s reputation has been further damaged by his continuous dispute with President Bola Tinubu’s administration over control of local government councils.
