Is Spraying Money Illegal in Nigeria? Naira Abuse Law 2026

By John Osakwe · Published 11 July 2026 · ElitePlanners.ng

Yes — spraying money is technically illegal in Nigeria. Spraying naira notes, stepping or dancing on them, or defacing them is an offence under Section 21 of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act 2007, punishable by at least six months imprisonment, a fine of not less than ₦50,000, or both. For decades nobody enforced it. Then in 2024 the EFCC started prosecuting, and one celebrity going to prison changed the mood at every owambe.

Here's the honest tension: spraying money is the beating heart of Nigerian celebration culture. The DJ calls your name, the cash rains down, someone films it for Instagram — that's the moment. But the law that's always been on the books is now being enforced, and "everyone does it" is no longer a defence that works in court. This guide explains exactly what the law says, who's actually been jailed, and how to spray at your wedding without ending up as the EFCC's next headline.

Is Spraying Money Really Illegal in Nigeria?

Yes. Spraying, stepping on, dancing on, or defacing the naira is classified as "abuse of the naira" under Section 21 of the CBN Act 2007. The law makes no exception for weddings, birthdays, or owambe — a social occasion is exactly the scenario the section describes.

The provision has existed since 2007, but for years enforcement was effectively zero. What changed is political will: from 2024, the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) began arresting and prosecuting high-profile offenders, treating naira abuse as a genuine crime rather than a cultural footnote. The notes themselves are the property of the CBN — legally you're spending money you own but mishandling a national asset you don't.

What Does the Naira Abuse Law Actually Say?

Section 21 of the CBN Act 2007 makes it an offence to tamper with, spray, deface, mutilate, or dance/march on naira notes and coins. The penalty is imprisonment for a term not less than six months, a fine of not less than ₦50,000, or both.

NAIRA ABUSE — WHAT COUNTS AS AN OFFENCE

Action	Legal Status
Spraying notes into the air / on a celebrant	Offence (abuse of naira)
Stepping, dancing, or marching on notes	Offence
Throwing notes on the floor	Offence
Squeezing, mutilating, or writing on notes	Offence
Selling naira notes (mint/new notes for a fee)	Offence
Handing or placing money as a gift	Not an offence

So the crime isn't giving money at a party — it's how the notes are treated. Rain them on the floor and grind them underfoot, and you've broken the law. Hand them over or drop them into a box, and you haven't.

Has Anyone Actually Been Jailed for Spraying Money?

Yes. The landmark case is Nigerian socialite Bobrisky (Idris Okuneye), convicted in April 2024 and sentenced to six months in prison for naira abuse after videos showed money being sprayed and stepped on at an event. There was no option of a fine.

That case sent a shockwave through the celebrity and event scene. The EFCC followed up with charges against other high-profile figures, including businessman Pascal Okechukwu (Cubana Chief Priest), and made clear the clampdown wasn't a one-off. The message to celebrants and guests was blunt: the cameras that make your spray go viral are the same cameras that hand the EFCC its evidence. Since then, "how do I spray money legally?" has become one of the most-asked wedding-planning questions in Nigeria.

How Do You Spray Money at a Wedding Without Breaking the Law?

You can still make it rain — you just can't let the money hit the floor and get trampled. The safe approach is to place or hand notes rather than throw them down, and to make sure nobody dances on the cash.

Practical ways couples and guests stay on the right side of the law:

Place, don't grind. Hand notes to the celebrant, tuck them into their outfit, or drop them into a money bag or box rather than scattering them on the floor.
Catch the cash. Assign "money pickers" or use a spread cloth so notes never touch the ground or get stepped on.
No stepping or dancing on notes. This is the specific act that jailed Bobrisky. Keep feet off the money.
Consider a money gun with props or foreign notes for the visual, then gift the real naira cleanly.
Gift by transfer. Increasingly, guests send money directly or drop cash in a decorated box — same generosity, zero legal risk.

One realistic take: the culture isn't dying, it's adapting. The classiest 2026 weddings still have the money moment — they've just swapped the trample-the-floor version for a catch-it, box-it, hand-it version that looks just as good on camera.

FAQ

Is spraying money at a wedding illegal in Nigeria?: Yes, technically. Spraying naira, stepping on it, or throwing it on the floor is "abuse of the naira" under Section 21 of the CBN Act 2007. Handing or placing money as a gift is legal — the offence is in how the notes are treated, not in giving money itself.

What is the punishment for spraying money in Nigeria?: Imprisonment for a term of not less than six months, a fine of not less than ₦50,000, or both, under the CBN Act 2007. In the high-profile 2024 conviction of Bobrisky, the court imposed six months' imprisonment with no option of a fine.

Who has been jailed for naira abuse in Nigeria?: Socialite Bobrisky (Idris Okuneye) was convicted in April 2024 and jailed six months for naira abuse. The EFCC subsequently charged other prominent figures, signalling that enforcement of the long-dormant law is now active.

Can I still spray money at my owambe?: You can still celebrate with cash, but avoid throwing notes on the floor or stepping on them. Place or hand money to the celebrant, use a money box or catch-cloth, or gift by transfer. These keep the celebration alive without committing an offence.

Is it illegal to sell new naira notes for spraying?: Yes. Selling mint or "clean" naira notes at a premium — common with the vendors who supply spraying cash — is also an offence under the CBN Act. Both the seller and, arguably, the buyer are exposed under the naira-abuse provisions.

Spraying money isn't going anywhere — it's too central to how Nigerians celebrate. But the era of grinding cash into the floor for a viral clip is over, and pretending the law doesn't exist is how you become the next cautionary headline.

Keep the moment, lose the risk: catch the cash, box it, or hand it over, and never let anyone dance on the notes. Your celebrant still feels the love, and the EFCC has nothing to film.

Browse verified event planners on ElitePlanners.ng who can run a smooth, classy money moment, or use our Event Cost Calculator to plan your celebration.