Subomi Okoya, one of the sons of Nigerian billionaire businessman Rasaq Okoya, has publicly apologised after a police officer was detained for his involvement in a viral video showing the abuse of naira notes.
In the video, Subomi and his brother Wahab can be seen spraying naira notes, while a police officer, who has since been detained, holds stacks of the currency. This act violates Section 21(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, which bans the mishandling or abuse of the country’s currency.
The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) quickly condemned the officer’s actions, calling it unethical and against the values of the force. They confirmed that the officer had been identified and detained for disciplinary action. While the statement condemned the officer’s involvement, no mention was made of any action taken against the Okoya sons, who were the main people seen abusing the naira in the video.
In response to the public backlash, Subomi Okoya apologised on his X account, expressing regret for his actions. He said, “To the Nigerian people, my actions were not intended to cause any trouble or harm. My intentions were pure and naive.” He asked for forgiveness, saying he was not fully aware of the consequences of his actions.
However, Okoya may have forgotten that ignorance of the law is not a valid excuse. The abuse of naira is a punishable offence, as seen in 2024 when socialite Bobrisky was imprisoned for a similar act.
