From mummy Risi’s Ówambẹ̀ to Prof. Okonkwo’s retirement party down to Musa’s hangout, parties are 5 unit courses Nigerians don’t like carrying over. In fact, being that Nigerians are hardworking, we always create time to unwind, enjoy life, and reconnect with family and friends before the resumption of our routine activities.
In all these parties, Nigerians have a culture of spraying money either on the musician, the celebrant, or even both. Will it be an exaggeration if I aver that social events in Nigeria and the spraying of money have been inseparable? I doubt it. If you have been a guest at any social event, you will attest to this fact.
Aside from being a norm, money spraying culture also serves as an effortlessly sign of flamboyance especially when you are spending higher denominations. It portrays, on one hand, the I have arrived mentality. On the other hand, it appears people are doing this even without the showoff mentality. Some are engaging in this practice simply because they are ignorant that there is a law that regulates such activity.
However, this practice is against the law as prescribed in Section 21 of the CBN Act 2007 because it is illegal and an abuse of the banknotes. S. 21 provides that: ‘For the avoidance of doubt, spraying of, dancing or matching on the Naira or any note issued by the Bank during social occasions or otherwise howsoever shall constitute an abuse and defacing of the Naira or such note and shall be punishable under Sub-section (1) of this section…. imprisonment for a term not less than six months or to a fine not less than N50,000 or to both such fine and imprisonment.’
It is pertinent to state that this is the law. Because we see people engage in this activity and go scot-free doesn’t make it less than the law neither does it allow us to indulge in it. As seen in this Latin maxim: dormiunt aliquando leges, nunquan moriuntur, which translates to mean, law sometimes sleeps, but never dies. It is better to know and adhere to the law so that its provision will not be raised against you.
Regarding the process to wake this law from its slumber, The CBN made its intention known, last year, to see that those who engage in this practice face the music. Interestingly, if someone is caught, the regularized court processes will be dispensed with and such an individual will be tried instantly. According to The CBN spokesman, Isaac Okorafor, ‘mobile courts would be deployed nationwide to enforce the law, confirmed the police and officials of the Federal Ministry of Justice would be involved in the monitoring and enforcement of the law…. If a celebrant is dancing and you spray him/her, you may go to jail from the party venue, because the law enforcement agents will be there, waiting to arrest you.’
In conclusion, the Nigerian currencies are symbols of national unity and sovereignty, which most be treated with respect.
Thank you. See you next week.❤
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