For abusing the naira during his 13th anniversary as monarch, Oba Aremo Sowemimo, the Olu of Owode Egba in Ogun State, has been suspended for two months.

According to a report by The PUNCH, the Egba Traditional Council suspended the monarch for two months without salaries on Friday.

“They said the suspension was due to the way I spent money on one musician. And when I was asked if I had anything to say, I stood up and apologised for whatever I had done wrong and the suspension, which was earlier announced to be for three months without salaries, was reduced to two months,” the suspended monarch told The PUNCH on Saturday.

The monarch was prohibited from parading himself as a traditional ruler within the period of his suspension.

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THE VIDEO THAT CAUSED HIS SUSPENSION

A viral video of Oba Sowemimo made it to X on January 9, as he was seen adorning Wasiu Ayinde, a Fuji musician, with a garland made of N1000 notes.

The traditional ruler’s action attracted backlash, as some questioned his morals while others condemned the blatant abuse of the naira.

There’re levels to this money spraying shii 🥶 pic.twitter.com/HjXRUt5bgZ

— Oyindamola🙄 (@dammiedammie35) January 9, 2024

Defacing the naira in this manner violates Section 21 (3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007 as amended, which stipulates that “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”.

Following the circulated video, the National Orientation Agency (NOA), saddled with the task of preserving and promoting the integrity of the country’s national symbols, issued a warning to the monarch via a statement dated January 12.

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Respect and Preserve our National Symbols #NOA #NOANigeria#NigerianNationalSymbols#NationalSymbolsNigeria pic.twitter.com/gtG7cZaCT8

— National Orientation Agency, Nigeria (@NOA_Nigeria) January 16, 2024

“We are compelled to appeal to you and indeed, all traditional rulers, to see it as part of your duty to preserve these symbols as part of our national culture. These symbols are icons that define us as a sovereign nation and respect for them means also respect for our country,” NOA stated.