The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has announced the detention of an officer who appeared in a viral video allegedly engaging in the abuse of the naira alongside the sons of Razaq Okoya, the billionaire industrialist.

The officer was seen holding wads of naira notes as Subomi ‘Sirheem’ Okoya, an up-and-coming musician, and his brother Wahab, danced to a tune.

The video was described as a promotional clip for Sirheem’s new song.

The clip has raised concerns about ongoing cases of naira abuse and the involvement of police officers in private ventures.

In 2024, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) intensified its efforts to address naira abuse by celebrities, referencing Section 21 of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act.

On April 4, Bobrisky, the social media personality, was arrested by the commission in Lagos for defacing naira notes.

The crossdresser was arraigned on a six-count charge by the EFCC.

On April 16, the EFCC filed a three-count charge against Cubana Chief Priest, the socialite and social media influencer, over alleged naira abuse.

• ‘IT’S UNETHICAL’

In a statement on Friday, Muyiwa Adejobi, the police spokesperson, said the officer seen in the video with the Okoyas has been detained.

He said the officer’s actions were unethical, adding that he would face disciplinary action.

“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,” Adejobi wrote on X.

“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.”

In his reaction, Subomi ‘Sirheem’ Okoya apologised to the police, adding that his actions were naive and unintentional.

“To the Nigerian people, my actions were not to cause any trouble or harm. My intentions were pure and naive,” he wrote on X.

“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.”

• WHAT THE CBN ACT SAYS

Section 21 of the act states: “(1) A person who tampers with a coin or note issued by the Bank is guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to 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.

“(2) A coin or note shall be deemed to have been tampered with if the coin or note has been impaired, diminished or lightened otherwise than by fair wear and tear or has been defaced by stumping, engraving, mutilating, piercing, stapling, writing, tearing, soiling, squeezing or any other form of deliberate and wilful abuse whether the coin or note has or has not been thereby diminished or lightened.

“(3) 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.

“(4) It shall also be an offence punishable under Sub-section (1) of this section for any person to hawk, sell or otherwise trade in the Naira notes, coins or any other note issued by the Bank.”

Dogo Isah, a notorious bandit leader, has reportedly been killed during a violent clash with a rival group in Kaduna state.

Isah, “infamous for leading high-profile attacks and terrorising residents in Kachia and parts of Kajuru LGA,” was involved in a confrontation over cattle rustling in Kachia forest on January 7. He was a cousin to Tukur Sharme, another bandit leader killed in a similar fratricidal clash in September 2024.

Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication covering the Lake Chad region, reported that Isah and his gang attempted to rustle cattle from a camp led by Kachalla Musa, a repentant bandit leader, which led to the confrontation.

Isah died alongside two of his gang members during the ensuing gun battle. Musa and his faction had recently embraced a peace initiative from the Kaduna state government and security agencies, following a meeting with stakeholders in Tsohon Gaya village, Chikun LGA.

“The initiative, which encourages former bandits to surrender and cease hostilities, had been extended to Dogo Isah, but he rejected the offer and continued his criminal activities, including cattle rustling and violent attacks,” the report noted.

“Dogo Isah’s group has been responsible for several high-profile attacks in the region, including the deaths of members of the 305 Artillery Demo Regiment in Makaranta Forest, Kagarko LGA, and an officer of the defunct Sect 4 OPWP near Gadan Mallam village along the Abuja-Kaduna road in 2022.”

“More recently, Dogo Isah’s group attacked Nigerian Navy personnel at a checkpoint in Kujama on January 5, 2025, resulting in the deaths of two Navy personnel and the theft of their AK-47 rifles.”

Makama warned that while Isah’s death may be seen as “a setback to banditry in Kaduna state, it has heightened fears among the recently repentant members of Kachalla Musa’s group.”

The report also added that Isah’s followers are now apprehensive and may be plotting a reprisal.

A federal high court in Abuja has summoned Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the minister of interior, and Lateef Fagbemi, the attorney-general of the federation (AGF), over issues related to the expatriate employment levy (EEL).

The ministers are required to appear before the court on January 16 to justify why the proposed expatriates taxation regime should not be halted.

Inyang Ekwo, the presiding judge, issued this ruling on Thursday following a motion ex parte presented by Patrick Peter, counsel representing the plaintiff.

Ekwo directed that the minister and the AGF be served with the motion within three days of the order.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CD/1780/2024, was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of New Kosol Welfare Initiative.

The group seeks an order of interim injunction to prevent the defendants from implementing the new expatriates’ taxation regime in Nigeria until the motion is heard and decided.

In the affidavit attached to the suit, Raphael Ezeh, programme implementation coordinator of the group, stated that the EEL taxation policy was announced by the federal government on Tuesday, February 27, 2024.

“According to KPMG and other online information analysts and dissemination agencies, the federal government intends to compel all companies and organisations who engage the services of foreign expatriates to pay tax E.E.L. as follows: For every expatriate on the level of a director — Fifteen Thousand United States Dollars ($15,000.00) equivalent to Twenty-Three Million Naira, by the current exchange rates (NW23,000,000.00) per annum,” he said.

“For every expatriate on a non-director level – Ten Thousand United States Dollars ($10,000.00) equivalent to Sixteen Million Naira, by the current exchange rates (N16,000,000.00) per annum.”

Ezeh stated that the federal government has also proposed additional regulations, including penalties and sanctions for non-compliance with the proposed taxation regime.

According to him, inaccurate or incomplete reporting will result in five years imprisonment and/or N1 million.

He explained that failure by a corporate entity to file EEL within 30 days will attract a penalty of N3 million.

Similarly, failure to register an employee within 30 days or the submission of false information will also incur a penalty of N3 million.

Ezeh added that failure to renew the EEL before its expiry date will attract a penalty of N3 million.

“The proposed taxation regime is totally an anti-people policy because of its radical effect on different aspects of the Nigerian economy, and it works like a choke-hold against the economic growth of the nation,” he said.

He emphasized that taxation is a sensitive issue, requiring collaboration between the executive and legislative arms of government under the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

He noted that, under section 59 of the constitution, the executive alone lacks the authority to impose taxes on corporate bodies and citizens.

Ezeh added that the current tax regime is “significantly more favourable to expatriates” compared to the proposed system.

“If the defendants are not restrained by an order of this honourable court, they will commence full implementation of the said programme, thereby threatening the nation’s economic sustainability,” he said.

The matter was adjourned to January 16 for the defendants to appear before the court and show cause.

The federal ministry of interior had suspended the implementation of the EEL in 2024 to allow for further consultations with the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and other stakeholders.