A Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, has convicted and sentenced 12 individuals for abusing the naira by spraying at social events.
The convicts 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 were prosecuted by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa on charges of tampering with the naira, an offence under the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act.
According to the EFCC, one of the charges stated that Akenuwa Osamudiamen sprayed ₦20,000 in ₦200 denominations while dancing at a birthday party in January 2025, an act that contravenes the provisions of the CBN Act regulating the handling of the national currency.
All 12 defendants pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them. Following their guilty pleas, prosecution counsel, Francis Jirbo, urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, while defence lawyers appealed for leniency, arguing that the defendants had shown remorse and learned from their actions.
In his judgment, Justice Nganjiwa sentenced 11 of the convicts to six months’ imprisonment with an option of a ₦150,000 fine each, while Akenuwa Osamudiamen was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with an option of paying a ₦200,000 fine.
The court also directed all 12 convicts to sign written undertakings to be of good conduct going forward.
