Court sends 12 to jail for naira abuse

A Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, has sentenced 12 people to six months in prison or a fine for abusing the naira by spraying money at parties.

The court convicted them after the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged them.

According to a press release from Dele Oyewale, who is the Head of Media and Publicity at the EFCC, the convicts are Abimbola Dolapo, Ufuoma Okotie, Samuel Kingsley, Rasaki Ayomide, Ekpmamuku Oghenekewvwe, Abraham Eriata, Favour Onowighose, Karaki Ejioghene, Simeon Sabastine, Valentine Chikeze, Omoyibo Prince, and Akenuwa Osamudiamen.

They faced Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court in Warri for spraying the naira during social events. This act is against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act.

One charge stated that Mr Osamudiamen sprayed N20,000 in N200 notes at a birthday party in January 2025. This goes against the CBN Act, which regulates how the national currency should be treated.

All twelve defendants admitted their guilt when the charges were read to them.

After their pleas, the prosecution lawyer, Francis Jirbo, urged the court to convict and sentence them.

The lawyers for the defendants asked for mercy, saying their clients felt sorry for what they did and had learned from the experience.

In his ruling, Justice Nganjiwa sentenced 11 of the convicts to six months in jail, with an option to pay a N150,000 fine each. Mr Osamudiamen was given the same six months in jail or the choice to pay a N200,000 fine.

The court also instructed all the convicts to sign a written promise to behave well in the future.