As part of measures to checkmate dollar speculators, hoarders and racketeers, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has raised 14 Special Task Forces nationwide to fish out the culprits.
Each task force will operate from the EFCC’s 14 Zonal Commands.
The anti-graft agency also arrested many dollar racketeers in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kaduna.
Some proprietors of universities and institutions charging fees in dollars have been invited for questioning.
A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Dele Oyewale said the Special Task Forces will ensure “the enforcement of extant laws against currency mutilation and dollarization of the economy.
“The Task Force, inaugurated by the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Ola Olukoyede, was raised to protect the economy from abuses, leakages and distortions exposing it to instability and disruption.
Although the EFCC was silent on the total number of those arrested, it said some suspects have been undergoing interrogation.
The statement added: “Already, the commission has arrested some perpetrators of issuance of invoices in dollars and mutilation of the Naira in Lagos and Port Harcourt.
“Also, proprietors of private universities and other institutions of higher learning charging fees in dollars have been invited by the Commission.
“The commission is committed to the enforcement of all laws in place for the reflation and stimulation of the economy.”
In a separate statement, the EFCC said its operatives in the Kaduna Zonal Command have arrested three persons in connection with suspected currency racketeering.
It said the suspects, including Musa Gideon, Abdul Seidu Adamu and Justine Musa, were arrested yesterday along Yakubu Gowon Way, Kaduna while trying to “sell new naira notes to an EFCC’s undercover operative.
“The operative, a member of the Special Task Force set up for the enforcement of extant laws against currency mutilation and dollarization of the economy functioned in a sting operation carried out by the Team.
“The operation yielded the arrest of the three suspects selling new and old naira notes to the tune of N1, 307,400 and in possession of many Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards.
“The suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.”
(The Nation)