Council suspends monarch for decorating musician with Naira notes
CITIZENS COMPASS —The Egba Traditional Council has suspended the Olu of Owode-Egba, Oba Kolawole Sowemimo, in Obafemi/Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, for openly decorating a musician with Naira notes.
Earlier, the monarch had received warnings from the National Orientation Agency (NOA) after a video captured him decorating a Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as K1, with knitted naira notes.
According to the NOA, the monarch’s action contravened 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, constitutes abuse and defacing of the naira or such note and shall be punishable under the law by fines or imprisonment, or both.
It wss learned that an actress had also been arrested for allegedly spraying new naira notes at a party.
The monarch was reportedly suspended on Friday, February 16, 2024, at the Egba Traditional Council February statutory meeting, chaired by the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo.
Announcing the monarch’s suspension, Olowu of Owu, Oba Saka Matemilola, said that Sowemimo should not be invited or seen at any government or public function as a traditional ruler and, for three months, should not receive any payment.
The committee made its decisions after examining the viral video.
Responding, Oba Sowemimo noted that the council’s decision was fair.
“I totally accept the verdict of the council because it is the person that we love that we chastise, so I am good with the decision… 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,” he stated.
The video captured the traditional ruler dancing and hugging the musician, while the money appears to be taped together. This has sparked mixed reactions on social media.
