Egba Traditional Council Suspends Monarch for Abusing Naira Notes

The Egba Traditional Council under the chairmanship of the Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, on Friday, suspended the Olu of Owode in Obafemi -Owode Local Government Area, Oba Kolawole Sowemimo, for two months over alleged abuse of naira notes.

Oba Sowemimo, in a viral video some couple of weeks ago was hanging a knitted N1000 naira notes on a popular Fuji musician (name withheld), during the 60th birthday of his wife.

The monarch’s action generated a lot of reactions on social media, with the Federal Government, through the National Orientation Agency (NOA), frowning at the action of the monarch.

The traditional ruler, it was gathered, had since apologised to the Federal Government over his action.

A 3-man, Ethics Committee chaired by the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Professor Saka Matemilola, found the monarch guilty of abusing the naira and recommended a 3-month suspension without pay for Oba Sowemimo.

The committee in the resolution also directed the monarch not to attend any state function, nor parade himself as traditional ruler pending the expiration of the suspension.

The suspended monarch, in a telephone interview, confirmed the development to newsmen when contacted.

He said, “They said the suspension was due to the way I spent money on one musician.

“And 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.

“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.”

The action of the suspended monarch was said to have contravened the Central Bank of Nigeria regulations.