The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered the arrest and subsequent prosecution of all individuals engaged in the sale or abuse of the naira notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

A statement released by the spokesperson of the police force, SP Olumuyiwa Adejobi,  says the directive is in furtherance of the Federal Government?s policy and drive to uphold the provisions of the CBN Act, 2007, and dignify Nigeria?s currency.

The IGP ordered the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) in charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department and the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of the Force Intelligence Bureau to place officers and men of the Department and the Bureau across the nation on high alert. Part of the statement reads

Police and Commissioners of Police in charge of Police Commands and Formations to carry out full enforcement of the provisions of Sections 20 and 21 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007 which criminalizes amongst other things the hawking, selling or otherwise trading, spraying of, dancing or matching on the Naira notes, falsifying or counterfeiting of bank notes, refusal to accept the Naira as a means of payment, tampering with the coin or note issued by the CBN.

The Inspector-General of Police reiterated the mandate of the Nigeria Police Force to enforce all laws and regulations without any prejudice to the enabling Acts of other security agencies and urged all and sundry to cooperate with the Nigeria Police Force as it brings the long arm of the law to bear upon all violators of the provisions of the CBN Act, and other extant statutes in Nigeria, with a view to having a well-policed society in all ramifications within the country”