Court jails 10 for naira mutilation in Delta, Edo

The Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of 10 people  for naira mutilation and abuse before Justice F. A. Olubanjo of the Federal High Court, Asaba, Delta State and Justice (Professor) C. A. Obiozor of the Federal High Court, Benin City, Edo state.

A press statement by the EFCC Head Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, Monday in Abuja, said the were arrested and prosecuted by the Commission for abusing the Naira, contrary to extant laws against such a practice.

EFCC Spokesperson listed the convicts as Lucky Onoberhie, Happy Joseph Isioma, Friday Ehiedu, Collins Ndudi Albert, Okorie Builder, Ernest Achieme, Isicheli Desmond Chijioke and Nwosu Davison

Others are: Enadegh Agbonmware and Lucky Osaro.

He said the convicts were said to have tampered with the naira by spraying the same while dancing at a party,   an offence contrary to Section 21(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007.

Oyewale noted that the charge against Ernest Achieme read: “That you Ernest Achieme (m) on or about the 31st December, 2025 at Kwale within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, whilst dancing at a wedding ceremony tampered with the sum of N50,000  in N200 denomination issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by spraying same and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007 and punishable under Section 21 (3) of the same Act”

He said upon arraignment, the defendants pleaded guilty to their charges when they were read to them, prompting the prosecution counsel, K. W. Chukwuma-Eneh to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

Justice F. A. Olubanjo convicted and sentenced Onoberhie, Isioma, Ehiedu, Ndudi, Builder, Achieme, Chijioke and Davison to 12 months imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 each.

He said in a similar development, Justice Obiozor convicted and sentenced Agbonmware to six months imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 for spraying the naira while Osaro was convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 for a similar offence.

The Spokesperson said all the convicts undertook in writing to be of good conduct going forward.