The Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured the conviction of 10 individuals for abusing the naira in Delta and Edo states.
According to The Punch, the anti-corruption agency announced the development in a statement published on its official platform on Monday.
According to the commission, the cases were heard before Justice F. A. Olubanjo of the Federal High Court in Asaba, Delta State, and Justice (Prof.) C. A. Obiozor of the Federal High Court in Benin City.
Those convicted are Lucky Onoberhie, Happy Joseph Isioma, Friday Ehiedu, Collins Ndudi Albert, Okorie Builder, Ernest Achieme, Isicheli Desmond Chijioke, Nwosu Davison, Enadegh Agbonmware and Lucky Osaro.
The EFCC said the defendants were arrested after they were caught spraying naira notes while dancing at social events, an act that violates Section 21(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.
One of the charges filed against Achieme stated, “That you Ernest Achieme (m) on or about the 31st December, 2025 at Kwale… whilst dancing at a wedding ceremony tampered with the sum of N50,000.00… in N200 denomination issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.”
The commission said all 10 defendants admitted to the charges when they were read in court. Following their guilty pleas, prosecuting counsel K. W. Chukwuma-Eneh urged the courts to convict and sentence them.
Justice Olubanjo subsequently convicted Onoberhie, Isioma, Ehiedu, Ndudi, Builder, Achieme, Chijioke and Davison, sentencing each to 12 months’ imprisonment with an option of a N100,000 fine.
In a separate ruling, Justice Obiozor sentenced Agbonmware to six months’ imprisonment with the option of a N100,000 fine for spraying the naira. Osaro received the same sentence for a similar offence.
The EFCC also disclosed that all the convicts signed written undertakings pledging to maintain good conduct in the future.
The agency noted that the convictions form part of its sustained enforcement campaign against naira abuse, reiterating that spraying, mutilating or mishandling the country’s currency at ceremonies and other gatherings remains a criminal offence under the Central Bank of Nigeria Act.
