Court jails 10 for spraying naira in Delta, Edo

Court jails 10 for spraying naira in Delta, Edo

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of 10 individuals for naira mutilation and abuse in Delta and Edo states.

In a statement on Monday, Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson, identified those convicted as Lucky Onoberhie, Happy Joseph Isioma, Friday Ehiedu, Collins Ndudi Albert, Okorie Builder, Ernest Achieme, Isicheli Desmond Chijioke, Nwosu Davison, Enadegh Agbonmware, and Lucky Osaro.

Oyewale said the convicts tampered with the naira by spraying it while dancing at parties — an offence contrary to section 21(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007.

“That you Ernest Achieme (m) on or about the 31st December, 2025 at Kwale within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, whilst dancing at a wedding ceremony tampered with the sum of N50,000.00 (Fifty Thousand Naira) in N200 (Two Hundred Naira) 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 and punishable under Section 21 (3) of the same Act,” part of the charge sheet reads.

Oyewale said the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges.

According to him, F. A. Olubanjo, the presiding judge of the federal high court in Delta, convicted and sentenced Onoberhie, Isioma, Ehiedu, Ndudi, Builder, Achieme, Chijioke and Davison to 12 months’ imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 each.

He added that C. A. Obiozor, a judge at the federal high court in Benin, Edo state, convicted and sentenced Agbonmware to six months’ imprisonment, with an option of a fine of N100,000 for spraying the naira.

Osaro was convicted and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 for a similar offence.