He claimed unawareness that abusing the naira, Nigeria's currency, is an offence.
Subomi Okoya, son of billionaire industrialist Razaq Okoya, has apologised to the Nigerian public for his actions.
He claimed unawareness that abusing the naira, Nigeria's currency, is an offence. Subomi and his brother Wahab were seen in a viral video spraying naira notes at a public event, an action that contravenes Section 21(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.
In response, the Nigerian police released a statement on Friday, stating that the police officer who featured in the video had been identified and would face disciplinary action.
According to Force Spokesman Adejobi Olumuyiwa, the individual to face disciplinary action is the police officer. However, there was no mention of any potential arrest or action against Okoya's sons, who were seen misusing the naira in the video.
The police wrote: “The policeman captured in the recent viral video shared by the sons of the Lagos businessman, Chief Okoya, where they were abusing the naira, has been identified and detained for disciplinary action.
“The involvement of the policeman has been condemned, as it's unethical. We will always strive hard to uphold the sanctity, credibility, and core values of the police. Thanks.”
However, the arrest of the police officer had pushed Nigerian netizens to also demand the arrest of Subomi and his brother Wahab.
The netizens opined that the police's action clearly showed they had placed Okoya’s sons above the law for refusing to apprehend them together with the policeman seen in the viral video.
Subomi, in a post on his X account on Friday, claimed that he did not understand the legal implications of his action.
He wrote: “To the Nigerian people, my actions were not to cause any trouble or harm. My intentions were pure and naive. I ask for your forgiveness and support in this situation as I had no intention to raise such an alarm. I wasn’t fully aware of the consequences of my action.”
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