The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched an investigation into an incident of naira abuse at a wedding in Kano. The investigation comes after a viral video showed guests spraying naira notes during the event, which sparked public outrage.
The wedding was for Ibrahim Mohammad and Amina Babagana Zannah, and it quickly became the center of attention after the video spread online. Many Nigerians expressed their displeasure over the misuse of the national currency, prompting the EFCC to act.
Initially, reports mistakenly claimed the incident occurred at the wedding of Fauziya Danjuma Goje, the daughter of Senator Danjuma Goje. However, the EFCC clarified that the naira-spraying incident took place at the wedding of Zannah, the daughter of Hajara Seidu Haruna, also known as Hafsat Gold Nigeria.
Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, confirmed that Haruna admitted the groom’s family, who are from Niger Republic, were responsible for spraying both naira and dollar bills at the celebration.
This incident is part of the EFCC’s ongoing campaign to tackle the abuse of the naira, which has been a growing concern in Nigeria. The commission has now summoned those involved to explain their actions as they continue their investigation into currency misuse.
The statement read;
“The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to a viral video where the nation’s currency, Naira, was freely sprayed at a wedding ceremony in Kano, Kano State on Friday, October 24, 2024.
Allegations of the abuse of the Naira were imputed to Mrs Fauziya Danjuma Goje, daughter of Senator Danjuma Goje, by Nigerians from all walks of life, including an Editorial by a leading and respected National Newspaper.
As a responsible and accountable anti-corruption agency campaigning against currency mutilation and dollarization of the economy, the EFCC swung into action by analysing the video and findings showed that the alleged naira abuse actually happened but not at the wedding of Goje’s daughter but at the wedding dinner of Amina Babagana Zannah held on the afore-mentioned date.
Zannah is the daughter of Hajara Seidu Haruna(a.ka. Hafsat Gold Nigeria) who is the Chief Executive Officer of Hafsat Jewellery Enterprise with offices in Abuja, Kano and Dubai (United Arab Emirate).
Haruna confirmed the viral video. She admitted that the alleged naira abuse took place at the wedding dinner of her daughter. The bridegroom, Ibrahim Mohammad hails from Niger Republic and those that allegedly sprayed naira notes and dollar bills were from the groom’s family in Niger Republic.
The Commission has invited the Nigerien groom, Mohammad, to report at its national headquarters in Abuja, with everyone that sprayed naira notes at his wedding with Zannah.
While the EFCC appreciates the consciousness its campaigns against naira abuse is building across the country, it will not move against anyone wrongly accused of an alleged crime. The Commission remains steadfast in this crusade and would spare no offender, no matter how highly placed.”
