The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited a Nigerien national, Ibrahim Mohammad, his family, and other guests for questioning over the alleged abuse of the Nigerian naira at his wedding in Kano. The incident, which saw naira notes being sprayed freely at the celebration, sparked public outrage and has now become part of the EFCC’s ongoing campaign against currency abuse.
The controversy began after a viral video surfaced showing the spraying of naira and dollar bills during the wedding of Amina Babagana Zannah and Ibrahim Mohammad. The video quickly gained traction on social media, leading to widespread condemnation. Initially, there was confusion regarding the identity of the couple involved, with some media outlets mistakenly attributing the incident to a different wedding—the nuptials of Fauziya Danjuma Goje, the daughter of Senator Danjuma Goje.
However, the EFCC clarified the situation in an official statement issued by Dele Oyewale, the commission’s Head of Media and Publicity. According to the statement, investigations revealed that the naira-spraying incident occurred at the wedding dinner of Amina Babagana Zannah, not Fauziya Danjuma Goje. “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,” the statement began.
The statement went on to address the misinformation that had initially spread across various media platforms. It explained that the allegations of naira abuse were wrongly attributed to the wedding of Fauziya Danjuma Goje, causing confusion and public concern. The EFCC clarified that the incident took place at the wedding of Zannah, whose mother, Hajara Seidu Haruna, is also known as Hafsat Gold Nigeria, the CEO of Hafsat Jewellery Enterprise with offices in Abuja, Kano, and Dubai.
Hajara Seidu Haruna confirmed the viral video, admitting that the naira abuse occurred at her daughter’s wedding dinner. She explained that the groom, Ibrahim Mohammad, hails from Niger Republic and that the individuals who sprayed the currency were from the groom’s family. “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 statement noted.
In response to the incident, the EFCC has invited Ibrahim Mohammad to report to its national headquarters in Abuja for questioning, along with the guests who participated in the naira-spraying. The commission emphasized that the investigation was part of its larger efforts to combat currency mutilation and the “dollarization” of the Nigerian economy. “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,” the EFCC confirmed.
The EFCC also reiterated its commitment to tackling currency abuse in Nigeria, stressing that it would take action against anyone found guilty, regardless of their status. “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,” the statement concluded.