The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFCC) has commenced an investigation into a viral video showing an unidentified man spraying wads of naira inside a Warri-based church.
Confirming the development to Saturday PUNCH, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said the agency was aware of the footage and had begun a probe into the incident.
‘The matter is under investigation’, he stated.
In the viral video, the yet-to-be-identified man was seen spraying various denominations, including N200, N50, and N20 notes, on a dark-coloured cow brought into the church during what appeared to be a thanksgiving event.
A female companion stood beside him, holding a large stack of cash as he continued to spray the money.
While the church’s pastor sang in Urhobo, a hype man repeatedly called the man a ‘young billionaire’ in pidgin English and urged the congregation to recognise him.
Despite being inside a place of worship, hip-hop music played loudly in the background as the man sprayed money amid cheers.
The video, which has generated outrage on social media, drew criticism from users on X.
A user identified as Fortis wrote, ‘This is very offensive to watch. More worrisome is the fact that children are even in this congregation. This is indeed disgraceful’.
Another user, @BishopBoye, commented, ‘They didn’t do 1/10 of what these people are doing before Jesus flogged them at the temple. 2,000 years later, just look at this’.
Ituma Sunny said, ‘Please don’t call this a church. There is no real church that will tolerate this nonsense’.
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Similarly, Asiegbu O. Odenigbo wrote, ‘Yahoo boy doing thanksgiving in a yahoo church for the yahoo pastor’.
John Vianney Dominic described the act as ‘Baal worship’, warning that ‘those who attended need deliverance’.
Another user, Prince Ade-Chameleon, alleged, ‘It will interest you to know that these aren’t yahoo boys but kidnappers’.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Delta State Police Command, Edefa Bright, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages were not responded to at the time of filing this report.
Naira abuse has long been a recurring concern, especially during social events where spraying money is treated as a cultural show of affluence.
The practice is a violation of Section 21 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, which prohibits tampering with or mishandling the currency.
In recent years, videos of individuals spraying or mutilating naira notes at parties, concerts, and religious gatherings have frequently gone viral.
In response, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has intensified efforts to clamp down on naira abuse, making several arrests and securing convictions.
The EFCC maintains that currency mutilation undermines the dignity of the naira, fuels illicit financial behaviour, and contributes to broader economic indiscipline.
High-profile cases involving celebrities, socialites, and event hosts have put a spotlight on the agency’s renewed resolve, with officials repeatedly warning that ignorance of the law is not an excuse.
