EFCC arrests female archbishop for alleged naira abuse, mutilation, and money laundering

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in its Benin Zonal Directorate, arrested Archbishop Angel Oyeghe on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, on charges including conspiracy, naira mutilation, and suspected money laundering.

Archbishop Oyeghe is the founder of the Faith Healing Ministry in Warri, Delta State.

Her arrest followed a viral video showing individuals under her supervision spraying naira banknotes on a live cow during a church event — a practice that allegedly violates Nigeria’s currency-abuse laws.

Legal basis for the arrest

The EFCC says the suspects’ actions contravened Section 21 of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act, 2007, which criminalises the defacing, mutilation, or abuse of the naira. Under the law:Section 21(3) prohibits “spraying of, dancing or stepping on the naira … during social occasions …” as an offence. Section 21(4) bans “hawking, selling or otherwise trading in naira notes.” Sentences for naira mutilation can include fines or imprisonment.

Broader crackdown on naira abuse

Archbishop Oyeghe’s arrest is part of a broader EFCC campaign against naira abuse, which has attracted significant public attention in recent months.

The EFCC has prosecuted multiple individuals over spraying, mutilating, or illegally trading the national currency.

For example:In April 2025, the EFCC arraigned Folake Adeoti and Modupe Adewuyi on charges of illegally hawking naira notes (₦3.85 million and ₦1.6 million respectively) under Section 21 of the CBN Act. In May 2025, a court jailed two individuals, Babatunde Peter Olaitan and Tobilola Olamide, for six months each after they admitted to spraying and tampering with N200 naira notes.

Controversy over EFCC’s role

There is some legal debate over whether the EFCC has the proper mandate to prosecute naira-abuse cases. Critics argue that the EFCC Act (Section 46) does not explicitly grant the agency the power to prosecute offences under the CBN Act.

Indeed, some legal observers contend that such cases fall under the jurisdiction of the Nigeria Police Force, not the EFCC.

Still, the EFCC has defended its actions, collaborating with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other agencies to enforce the 2007 law.

What’s next

The EFCC says Archbishop Oyeghe has made “useful statements” during its investigation, and that she will be charged in court once their inquiry is complete.

According to the agency, they are also pursuing other suspects linked to the case.Given the high-profile nature of this arrest — combining religion, viral social media content, and alleged money laundering — the outcome could mark a significant moment in Nigeria’s enforcement of naira-abuse laws.