Probe Melaye now…HEDA urges CBN

792

 

The Human and Environmental Agenda (HEDA) have asked the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) to take necessary steps to probe the activities of Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye over what it described as his violating CBN rules.
The group cited what it described as the “lavish display of money” during the burial of the Senators aged mother which took place in Gbede, Kogi State.

It will be recalled that a video showing Senator Melaye spraying a mix of local and foreign currencies on locals during the burial ceremony has recently gone viral drawing widespread criticisms from many Nigerians

In a petition sent to the Central Bank Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, Human and Environmental Development Agenda, (HEDA Resource Centre) called for the immediate prosecution of the Senator by the appropriate authorities.

The statement signed by HEDA’ s Chairman Mr Olanrewaju Suraju said  the action of Senator Melaye apart from setting unethical standards also violated the Nigerian constitution.

HEDA stated “Critical review of the video that has gone viral over the social media, goes to the root of irony as men and women elected into power who ought to lead by example are the ones found disobeying and breaking the laws and this only goes to show the irony and the complete lack of integrity in our electoral process that we elect into power men and women who make laws and still find it difficult to abide by them.”

ALSO READ: MultiChoice Welcomes fans to new football season with live screening

It said HEDA is perturbed by the disgraceful flouting of the law by a Senator as this is a display of complete mockery of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended) in Section 4 (2) that the National Assembly shall have power to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the Federation or any part thereof with respect to any matter included in the Exclusive Legislative List set out in Part I of the Second Schedule to this Constitution.”

The rights group said “We believe this action of the lawmaker is an outright violation of and disregard for the currency and also show of bad precedence.

“Leaders ought to lead by example and in accordance with provisions of the law. The Act in reference is absolutely clear on the provisions as stated above. However, our organization believes in the presumption of innocence; hence the need for the petition and prompt action”

It said the position occupied by Senator Melaye, being a public office is one that calls for utmost integrity, accountability and responsibility but he is at the same time not above the law and should have avoided public disdain as allegedly displayed at the ceremony. This spraying of the currency amounts to tampering with the currency against Section 21 of the Central Bank Act, 2007 which is an offence punishable by law.”

As a result,HEDA demanded for an immediate and urgent investigation of the said allegation of spraying of money in the video in line with the provisions of the law and with the view to visiting the perpetrators with the claws of the law.

It said the petition was hinged on the provisions of Section 21 of the Central Bank Act, 2007.

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 sentenced 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.

In section two, it stated further  “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 willful abuse whether the coin or note has or has not been thereby diminished or lightened.”

Also in Section 21 (3), in addition to the Provisions of Section 21 (1& 2), it also states as follows;
That “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”

Kindly support the growth of journalism in Nigeria

Reactions to stories published can be sent to us at [email protected]


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *