In its efforts to curb the continued depreciation of the naira against the dollar, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) revealed the arrest of numerous currency racketeers in Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Kaduna.
It also summoned proprietors of privately operated universities and higher institutions who impose fees in dollars for questioning.
In a separate development, the EFCC announced on Wednesday that it has established a Special Task Force within its Zonal Commands in order to address the issues of currency mutilation and dollarization of the economy.
This coincides with a request from the Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to permit its members to recommence dollar sales.
The naira traded at N1,490/$ at the parallel market and N1,418/$ in banks yesterday on Wednesday.
In a statement by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the EFCC said the task forces will ensure “the enforcement of extant laws against currency mutilation and dollarisation of the economy.
“The task force, inaugurated by the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Ola Olukoyede, was raised to protect the economy from abuses, leakages and distortions exposing it to instability and disruption.”