Popular Nollywood actor Deyemi Okanlawon has shared his thoughts on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s recent clampdown on naira abuse, particularly its focus on celebrities and entertainers.
Speaking during an interview on Nollywood On Radio, the acclaimed actor acknowledged the importance of the EFCC’s campaign to protect the integrity of the naira but questioned the agency’s priorities amid Nigeria’s broader battle with systemic corruption.
“Two things, I think that because something is cultural does not make it right. We have a culture that does not really emphasise on maintenance of things,” Okanlawon noted, drawing a parallel between the misuse of the national currency and the general societal tendency to neglect maintenance and preservation.
He further elaborated: “We have seen how things are built and we do not maintain it so we continue in that light…They are saying have respect for the naira, have respect for your country, maybe that is the way to do it. But the second thing is that I also think there are so many issues with corruption and crime going on in the country across different segments of people.”
Okanlawon expressed concern that the EFCC appears to be targeting entertainers disproportionately, despite the widespread and more serious cases of corruption plaguing the country.
“So this move by the agency to come against entertainers is a bit too much in the light of everything else that we are trying to deal with,” he said.
According to him, public trust in the EFCC’s intentions would grow if Nigerians regularly witnessed high-profile convictions of corrupt officials and institutions.
“If every day we hear about corrupt officials, politicians, or organisations being brought down by the agency, we’d be more likely to trust that they’re acting in our best interest. Then, if they ask us to stop something like spraying money, we’d likely obey without question because we’d trust that the agency has the moral right to make such requests.”
His comments come in the wake of a wave of EFCC actions targeting celebrities for naira mutilation. Bobrisky and Cubana Chief Priest were arrested and prosecuted, while other stars including Iyabo Ojo and AY Makun were summoned for spraying cash at public events.
Okanlawon’s remarks have added to the growing public discourse on the fairness, focus, and long-term impact of the EFCC’s approach to enforcing the country’s currency laws.
