Although Nigerian lawmakers have been advised to visit and
empower their constituents during the summer break, Ibrahim Abunna has taken
this counsel to another level.
In a viral video, the Borno lawmaker was seen throwing money
at people believed to be his constituents.
This is how the Chairman, Committee on #ClimateChange in @HouseNGR, Hon. Ibrahim Abunna, representing Mafa, Dikwa & Konduga Federal Constituency in #wartorn North East #Nigeria, lowers #GreenHouse emissions: thro #NairaRain. It is called #ParliamentaryDoings! pic.twitter.com/JfEkyJbyEF
— Chidi Odinkalu (@ChidiOdinkalu) July 29, 2021
The ‘beneficiaries’, numbering over 100 , comprised men,
women of different age groups, including the elderly.
Mr Abunna, who represents Dikwa/Kuduga/Mafa federal
constituency of Borno State in the House of Representatives, portrayed his
generosity from a balcony ignoring the risk of a stampede as the people
struggled to catch the flying naira notes.
He also posted the act on his official Facebook page with
the caption “distributing money to thousands.”
What the law says:
It is ironic yet unsurprising for a lawmaker to be seen
publicly breaking the law.
Section 21(3,4,5) of the Central
Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act 2007 clearly prohibits any form of abuse of
the Nigerian currency.
The Act prescribes “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 for anyone guilty of spraying of, dancing or matching on the Naira
or any note issued by the Bank during social occasions.”
“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.
“It shall also be an offence punishable under Sub-section
(1) of this section for any person to hawk, sell or otherwise trade in the
Naira notes, coins or any other note issued by the Bank…
The law further says “Matching” includes spreading
scattering or littering of any surface with any naira notes or coins and
stepping thereon, regardless of the value, volume, occasion or intent.
Although, the law is seldom enforced by the government, as
most Nigerians still indulge in spraying of money, lawmakers inclusive at
public functions.
Nigerians react to video
Already, Nigerians have taken to social media to condemn the
act with many describing it as demeaning and insulting.
Others said there are better ways to gift and empower the
people than spraying wads of cash in the air at the risk of a stampede.
Chidi Odinkalu, a human rights activist and former chairman
of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) , shared the video on Twitter and
captioned it with heavy sarcasm.
“This is how the Chairman, Committee on #ClimateChange in
@HouseNGR, Hon. Ibrahim Abunna, representing Mafa, Dikwa & Konduga Federal
Constituency in #wartorn North East #Nigeria, lowers #GreenHouse emissions:
thro #NairaRain. It is called #ParliamentaryDoings!”
Another Twitter user, @dortune4, wrote “This is what will
keep Nigeria the way it is for a long time to come, the bigmanism mentality of
the rich, this is what will make them keep stealing money by any means
possible, the ‘rankadede’ way of life will make people will come n line up for
scraps. Instead of holding politicians responsible for the harm they do to our
Commonwealth.”
The lawmaker did not respond to calls made to his phone nor
reply text messages sent to him.
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