A video circulating online shows a Chinese national in Lagos tearing Nigerian Naira notes, believed to be N1000 denominations, in front of Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) officials.
The incident occurred on Wednesday outside a Chinese company located opposite Eko Kate along the Lekki-Epe Expressway.
In the viral footage, the Chinese citizen, dressed in only shorts, is seen pulling out the Naira notes from his pocket before tearing them in front of government officials.
The video was shared by an X user, @dammiedammie35, who reported that the act was in response to the sealing of the company, allegedly for violating local laws.
Yesterday at a Chinese company opposite Eko Kate along Lekki Epe express road, this Chinese man for reasons best known to him pulled out some Naira notes and tore Infront of some Lagos government officials for sealing his premises based on some laws he broke. pic.twitter.com/CH12NrMnto
— Oyindamola🙄 (@dammiedammie35) November 14, 2024
The netizen wrote, “Yesterday, at a Chinese company opposite Eko Kate along the Lekki-Epe expressway, this Chinese man, for reasons best known to him, tore Nigerian Naira notes in front of LASEPA officials after they sealed his premises for breaking certain laws.
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As the officials attempted to arrest the man for the Naira abuse, a group of individuals, believed to be workers of the sealed company, intervened. They defended the Chinese national, pushing away the LASEPA officials and attempting to disrupt the arrest.
The witness who recorded the video can be heard shouting, “He tore Nigerian money. The Chinese man has disrespected Nigeria.”
In response to inquiries about the incident, Dele Ayewale, the spokesperson for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), confirmed he had heard of the incident but had not seen the video.
SaharaReporters sent the video to Ayewale, who promised to follow up, but no further comment had been received by the time of publishing.
This incident recalls previous cases of Naira mutilation. In May 2022, Li Lei Lei, a Chinese national, was sentenced to two years in prison for tearing Naira notes worth N3,200. He was convicted of tampering with Nigerian currency under the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Establishment Act.
The CBN has consistently warned against abusing the Naira. In May 2021, CBN official Dorothy Onyene reminded Nigerians that tampering with the Naira is a punishable offense, subject to a fine or imprisonment. She urged the public to handle the currency with respect to avoid legal consequences.
The government’s commitment to curbing Naira abuse was further demonstrated in April 2024 when Nigerian crossdresser Bobrisky was sentenced to six months in prison for mutilating Naira notes worth N490,000. Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Lagos, condemned such acts, warning that the practice damages the country’s image and must stop.
This latest incident serves as a reminder that tampering with the Naira remains a serious offense in Nigeria, with legal repercussions for offenders.
