Raheem Okoya, one of the sons of billionaire industrialist Chief Razaq Okoya, has apologised for his involvement in alleged Naira abuse.
A video of Raheem and his brother, Wahab, allegedly throwing around the Nigerian currency went viral last week.
In Nigeria, disrespectful attitudes toward currency notes, such as flinging or marching on them, have been outlawed and could lead to jail time.
In the video, a policeman is seen holding cash as the brothers dance and toss some mint Naira notes into the air.
The policeman featured in the video was detained by the police, Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed in a statement on Friday.
Adejobi added that the policeman is being subjected to disciplinary action.
The online space had been outraged with the arrest of the policeman but not the Okoya sons, with insinuations that law enforcement could dare not apply the law equally to the mega-rich in Nigeria.
However, on Friday, Raheem appeared to show remorse for his behaviour. In a post he made via his X handle, Raheem said,
“To the Nigerian people, my actions were not to cause any trouble or harm.
“My intentions were pure and naive. 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,” he said.
But is ignorance of the law an acceptable excuse under Nigeria’s jurisprudence?
In April 2024, a socialite, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, was jailed for six months for naira abuse.
Another young billionaire, Pascal Chibuike Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, faced similar charges but was let the hook with a slap on the wrist.
This latest development is sure to reignite the debate about equality under the law in Nigeria.
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