More Trouble for Okpebholo’s Aide, In EFCC Net for Alleged Naira Abuse

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The coordinator of the suspended Edo State Public Safety Team, Kelly Okungbowa, also known as Ebo Stone, has landed in fresh trouble barely one week after two of his officials allegedly caused the death of a two-year-old baby girl, Gifty Eseosa Kelly in Benin City leading to their suspension by Governor Monday Okpebholo.

Okungbowa was on Monday arrested by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for alleged naira abuse thereby compounding his travails.

Recall that Baby Gifty was crushed to death at his mother’s POS kiosk at the Ring Road when two officials of the PRST were dragging the steering wheel of a commercial bus with the driver while trying to arrest him for an alleged traffic infraction.

A terse statement on Monday by the EFCC’s Head, Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale confirming Okungbowa’s arrest said, “The EFCC has arrested Kelly Okungbowa (a.k.a Ebo Stone) for alleged naira abuse.

“Okungbowa, who until recently was the coordinator of the Edo State Public Safety Response Team, PSRT, now suspended by the State Government, was arrested owing to a viral video where he was seen spraying and mutilating the naira at a bar on March 9, 2025. “He will be charged to court as soon as investigations are completed.”

If found guilty, the embattled Okungbowa is jail-bound or may get away with a fine if the court is lenient. The law provides that any person convicted for the abuse of the naira note or tampers with a coin or note is liable for imprisonment for a term not less than six months or to a fine not less than N50, 000 or to both.

Section 21 (3) of the CBN Act specifically criminalises offences relating to the abuse of the naira that constitutes “spraying of, dancing or marching on the naira or any note issued by the bank during social occasions or otherwise”.