By Imisioluwa Afunmiso
No fewer than 12 persons have been convicted and sentenced by the Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, for tampering with and abusing the naira during a social event.
The convictions were secured by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa.
The anti-graft agency disclosed that the convicts were prosecuted for spraying naira notes while dancing at a birthday party, an act that contravenes Section 21(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act, 2007.
The convicted persons are Abimbola Dolapo, Ufuoma Okotie, Samuel Kingsley, Rasaki Ayomide, Ekpmamuku Oghenekewvwe, Abraham Eriata, Favour Onowighose, Karaki Emmanuel Ejioghene, Simeon Sabastine, Valetine Chikeze, Omoyibo Destiny Prince and Akenuwa Clinton Osamudiamen.
According to the EFCC, one of the charges stated that Akenuwa Clinton Osamudiamen tampered with the sum of N20,000 in N200 denomination issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying the notes while dancing at a birthday celebration, an offence punishable under the CBN Act.
The Commission said all the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against them.
Following their guilty pleas, prosecution counsel, Francis Jirbo, urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly, while defence counsel pleaded for leniency, arguing that they had shown remorse.
In his judgment, Justice Nganjiwa sentenced 11 of the convicts to six months’ imprisonment with an option of a N150,000 fine each, while Akenuwa Clinton Osamudiamen was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with an option of a N200,000 fine.
The court also ordered the convicts to sign written undertakings to maintain good conduct.
Meanwhile, the EFCC disclosed that Justice Nganjiwa had earlier ordered the final forfeiture of seven luxury vehicles recovered from convicted internet fraudsters to the Federal Government.
The forfeited vehicles include Mercedes-Benz GLK, Lexus RX 330, Mercedes-Benz ML, Lexus ES 350, Mercedes-Benz GLKC, Mercedes-Benz GLC and another Mercedes-Benz GLK, which the Commission said were proceeds of crime.