Kelly Okungbowa, also known as Ebo Stone, the suspended coordinator of the Edo State Public Safety Response Team, was arrested by agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Benin Zonal Directorate on Monday on suspicion of abusing naira.
This was disclosed in a statement released on Monday by Dele Oyewale, the head of media and publicity at the EFCC.
He said that because of a widely shared video showing Okungbowa spraying and disfiguring naira at a bar on March 9, 2025, the state government had suspended him.
The statement reads, “The EFCC has arrested Kelly Okungbowa (a.k.a Ebo Stone) for alleged naira abuse.”
“Okungbowa, who until recently was the coordinator of the Edo State Public Safety Response Team, PSRT, now suspended by the State Government, was arrested owing to a viral video where he was seen spraying and mutilating the naira at a bar on March 9, 2025.’
“He will be charged to court as soon as investigations are completed.”
The Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has praised EFCC for the swift arrest of Okungbowa.
Following a statement on Monday, the Publicity Secretary of the Edo State PDP Caretaker Committee, Chris Nehikhare, charged EFCC with thorough investigation and diligent prosecution in accordance with the CBN Act of 2007, which criminalises the abuse of naira notes.
Nehikhare said, “The Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) commends the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the swift arrest of Kelly Okungbowa, also known as Ebo Stone, for alleged naira abuse.”
“The swift arrest of Okungbowa, who was seen in a viral video spraying and mutilating the naira, sends a strong message that such criminal and irresponsible actions will not be tolerated, regardless of the perpetrator’s position or influence.”
“We charge the EFCC to carry out a thorough investigation on the matter and ensure diligent prosecution by the CBN Act of 2007, which criminalises the abuse of naira notes, including spraying, stepping on, or mishandling.”
