The Federal High Court in Sokoto has convicted and sentenced three men, Ahmad Buhari, Jamilu Bello, and Yasir Bala, for their involvement in the mutilation of the Nigerian Naira.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Ahmad Mahmud, the trio was found guilty of a five-count charge bordering on the abuse of the national currency, an offence that contravenes Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act, 2007.
The defendants pleaded guilty to all charges brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
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Following their admission of guilt, the prosecution counsel, ACE I Aliyu Usman, urged the court to impose a sentence that would serve as a deterrent to others who treat the national currency with levity.
Justice Mahmud, in his ruling, emphasised the importance of the Naira as a symbol of national sovereignty and the need for its respectful handling.
Beyond standard penalties, the court handed down a unique and reformative sentence.
The convicts are mandated to visit secondary schools within their community to educate students on the negative effects of cybercrime and financial fraud.Use their experience to warn the younger generation against the legal and social consequences of fraudulent activities.
The court directed that these sensitization activities must be strictly supervised by designated officers from the EFCC to ensure compliance and impact.
This conviction highlights the EFCC’s ongoing crackdown on the abuse of the Naira.
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Under Section 21 of the CBN Act 2007, activities such as spraying or dancing on naira notes during social occasions; mutilation, tearing, or defacing the currency; hawking or selling mint notes are all punishable by fines, imprisonment, or both.
The EFCC encouraged members of the public to visit their official website, www.efcc.gov.ng, for further details on this case and tips on how to report financial crimes.
