Twelve Convicted for Naira Abuse in Warri Court

A Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, has convicted and sentenced twelve individuals to six months’ imprisonment or fines for abusing the naira by spraying banknotes at social events. The prosecution was carried out by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The convicts, including Abimbola Dolapo, Ufuoma Okotie, Samuel Kingsley, and others, were arraigned before Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa on charges of tampering with the naira, an offence under the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act. One notable charge involved Akenuwa Osamudiamen, who sprayed N20,000 in N200 denominations at a birthday party in January 2025.

All twelve defendants pleaded guilty, and the prosecution counsel, Francis Jirbo, requested their conviction. While the defendants' lawyers sought leniency, Justice Nganjiwa sentenced eleven of them to six months’ imprisonment with an option of a N150,000 fine each, while Osamudiamen faced a six-month sentence or a N200,000 fine.

The court also mandated all convicts to submit a written undertaking to maintain good conduct.