A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos has sentenced Okoli Emeka to six months imprisonment for defacing the Nigerian currency during a social gathering.
The conviction followed a charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 1.
The Commission brought the charge over Emeka’s actions at Al-Moruf Garden, Isheri Olofin, in Alimosho Local Government Area.
He was accused of stepping on N2 million worth of Naira notes during an event on August 18, 2024.
The single-count charge stated: “That you, Okoli Frank Emeka, on the 18th day of August, 2024, at Al-moruf Garden, Isheri Olofin, Alimosho Local area of Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst matching on the Naira notes during a social occasion, tampered with the sum of N2,000, 000.00 issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria, by matching on the same at the said occasion and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.”
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Emeka pleaded guilty when the charge was read.Following his plea, prosecuting counsel Z.B.
Atiku presented evidence through EFCC operative Sa’id Sada Sani. Sani explained that Emeka was apprehended on May 15 after the Commission investigated a viral video linked to currency abuse.
“A surveillance was carried out, leading to the arrest of the defendant on May 15, 2025,” Sani testified.
“He was shown a video of him spraying the money and he made a statement regarding it.”
The court admitted both the video footage and Emeka’s statement as evidence.
After reviewing the case, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke found Emeka guilty and handed him a six-month prison sentence, with an option to pay a fine of N250,000.
