The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has initiated an investigation into the reported misuse of naira currency during a recent wedding in Kano, Nigeria.
The EFCC’s focus is on Ibrahim Mohammad, a Nigerien national, who married Amina Babagana Zannah, and the guests in attendance who allegedly sprayed naira notes during the wedding celebrations. This action is considered a breach of Nigeria’s currency regulations, sparking national attention and criticism.
The investigation was launched after a video from the wedding went viral, showing guests freely spraying naira notes—a practice that the EFCC has been actively working to discourage as part of its wider campaign to protect the national currency from abuse.
Public reaction was swift, and initial reports mistakenly associated the incident with the wedding of Fauziya Danjuma Goje, the daughter of Senator Danjuma Goje. However, after careful review, the EFCC clarified that the event took place at Zannah’s wedding, held on October 24, 2024.
Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity for the EFCC, addressed the situation, affirming that the commission remains committed to its anti-currency abuse initiatives. He confirmed that the video analysis revealed the currency-spraying occurred at Zannah’s wedding.
The statement read, “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, Kano State on Friday, October 24, 2024.
“Allegations of the abuse of the Naira were imputed to Mrs Fauziya Danjuma Goje, daughter of Senator Danjuma Goje, by Nigerians from all walks of life, including an Editorial by a leading and respected National Newspaper.
“As a responsible and accountable anti-corruption agency campaigning against currency mutilation and dollarization of the economy, the EFCC swung into action by analysing the video and findings showed that the alleged naira abuse actually happened but not at the wedding of Goje’s daughter but at the wedding dinner of Amina Babagana Zannah held on the afore-mentioned date.
“Zannah is the daughter of Hajara Seidu Haruna(a.ka. Hafsat Gold Nigeria) who is the Chief Executive Officer of Hafsat Jewellery Enterprise with offices in Abuja, Kano and Dubai (United Arab Emirate).
“Haruna confirmed the viral video. She admitted that the alleged naira abuse took place at the wedding dinner of her daughter. 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 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
“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.”
