Court jails 12 for Naira abuse in Warri

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of 12 individuals for naira mutilation and abuse before Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State.

The EFCC, in a statement via its X handle, said the convicts were prosecuted by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the commission for tampering with the naira during a social event.

The agency gave the names of those convicted as 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 anti-graft agency, the convicts sprayed naira notes while dancing at a birthday party, an act it said contravened Section 21(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.

The charge against Akenuwa Clinton Osamudiamen stated that he “whilst dancing at a birthday party tampered with the sum of N20,000 in N200 denomination issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same,” thereby committing an offence punishable under the Act.

The EFCC said the defendants pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them, prompting prosecution counsel, Francis Jirbo, to urge the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

Counsel to the defendants, however, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, arguing that the convicts had shown remorse for their actions.

Justice Nganjiwa subsequently sentenced 11 of the convicts to six months imprisonment or a fine of N150,000 each, while Akenuwa Clinton Osamudiamen was sentenced to six months imprisonment or a fine of N200,000.

The EFCC added that all the convicts signed written undertakings to maintain good conduct going forward.

Meanwhile, the commission also disclosed that Justice Nganjiwa had, on Friday, July 17, 2026, ordered the forfeiture of seven luxury vehicles to the Federal Government.

The vehicles, according to the EFCC, were recovered as proceeds of crime from convicted internet fraudsters.

The forfeited cars include Mercedes Benz GLK, Lexus RX 330, Mercedes Benz ML, Lexus ES 350, Mercedes Benz GLKC, Mercedes Benz GLC and another Mercedes Benz GLK.