The ‘Oba Anambra invasion’ vs. the Rule of Law

The last few days in Nigeria, Anambra State in particular, has seen the rise to prominence of a particular town in Anambra State – Oba! Oba is located in the Idemili-South Local Government Area in the south-eastern state.

This little, relatively unknown town shot into the limelight this past week as Obi Iyiegbu, best known as Obi Cubana performed the funeral rites for his late mother, Ezinne Iyiegbu.

The ceremony was literally a gathering of big wigs from all works of life. Politics, Business, Music, Religion even Nollywood was not left out with the likes of Kanayo O. Kanayo, Williams Uchemba, Alex Ekubo amongst many others ably representing, eelive.ng reports.

The gathering was not just reunion of old friends and acquaintances but also it turned out to be a delirious show of opulence and wealth in more ways than one. From the number of private jets that flew into the state to the amount of gifts received by the host.

One outstanding feature of that ceremony though — and the subject of this article — was the flagrant and outlandish spraying and throwing about of money in its different denominations and currencies – literally! The ceremony saw guests at different times, both nationals and even foreign nationals either throwing money into the air or spraying on specific individuals.

Facing the law

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act 2007, Section 21 Sub 3 states:

“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.”

The Apex Bank through its Bankers’ Committee has made sure to sensitize the general public and repeatedly too, that Nigerians who spray naira notes at ceremonies risk going to jail for about six months or made to pay a ₦50,000 fine. Mobile courts have been mandated to move around to summarily apprehend and put to trial perpetrators of abuse of the naira.

The situation takes a baffling turn when one takes into account the number of security personnel both of the Secret Service, Military and Police on ground at the time of these infractions, some who I dare say aided and abetted the commission of same.

Significant of note at the ceremony was the presence of Abba Kyari.

Abba Kyari is the Inspector General of Police’s Intelligence Response Team (IGP-IRT) and a Deputy Commissioner of Police with the Nigeria Police Force. Not even his presence could deter the merry mourners as they reveled in their effervescence.

A sigh of relief though as there is no record thus far of the respected police brass indulging in the indictable act. Not just on the count of illegality but also against the background that he is a public servant whose official income one would fear would be insufficient to accommodate such lavishness.

Reluctantly, the events of the past few days, beg some questions – With the overwhelming amount of evidence on display for all to see, will any of the culprits of the now-famous “Oba Anambra invasion” face the music? Is the government oblivious to what transpired in Oba, Anambra? Are the culprits bigger than the law? Will any of our favourite entertainers get to entertain us in court?

Maybe in other climes but in the end, as valid as these questions may be, in these parts, at best they are rhetorical, at worst – treasonous!