Actor Deyemi Okanlawon has addressed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s recent clampdown on naira abuse in an interview on Nollywood On Radio.

While acknowledging the importance of respecting the naira as a national symbol, he linked the issue to Nigeria’s broader cultural disregard for maintenance and order.

“Two things. First, I believe that just because something is cultural doesn’t make it right. We live in a society that doesn’t prioritise maintenance.

“We’ve seen how infrastructure is developed without being properly sustained, and we continue in that pattern,” he said.

“They’re asking us to respect the naira, to respect the country perhaps this is one way to push that agenda.

“But secondly, I think there are far more pressing issues with corruption and crime across various sectors.”

Okanlawon, however, criticised the EFCC’s focus on entertainers for money-spraying, especially when more serious cases of corruption remain unchecked.

He argued that if the EFCC were consistent in tackling corruption involving high-ranking officials and organisations, it would bolster the agency’s moral authority and public trust.

“This, he said, would make it easier for Nigerians to accept measures against culturally embedded practices like money spraying.

“This move by the agency against entertainers feels excessive considering the other major issues we’re grappling with,” he stated.

“If we regularly saw corrupt politicians, officials, or organisations being held accountable by the EFCC, we’d be more inclined to believe the agency truly has our best interests at heart.

” Then, if they ask us to stop a practice like spraying money, we’d comply without resistance because they’d have earned the moral credibility to make that demand.”

Notably, celebrities such as Bobrisky and Cubana Chief Priest have been arrested and prosecuted for naira mutilation.

Others, including Iyabo Ojo and AY Makun, were invited by the EFCC over similar acts at social events.