A man identified as Okoli Frank Emeka has been sentenced to six months imprisonment for mutilating Naira notes.
This follows the conviction and sentencing secured by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, May 23, 2025.
According to the EFCC, the convict was arraigned on a one-count charge of tampering with and stepping on the Naira notes.
The charge reads: “That you, Okoli Frank Emeka, on the 18th day of August, 2024, at Al-moruf Garden, Isheri Olofin, Alimosho Local Government 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 ₦2,000,000.00 (Two Million Naira) 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.”
He pleaded guilty to the charge, and in view of his plea, prosecution counsel, Z.B. Atiku, reviewed the facts of the case through Sa’id Sada Sani, an investigative officer with the EFCC.
In his evidence, Sani told the court that the Commission launched an intelligence-driven investigation following a trending video related to Naira mutilation.
He added: “A surveillance was carried out, leading to the arrest of the defendant on May 15,2025. He was shown a video of him spraying the money and he made a statement regarding it.”
The defendant’s extrajudicial statements and video recordings were tendered and admitted into evidence by the court.
Consequently, Atiku prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly.
Justice Aneke convicted and sentenced Okoli to six months imprisonment, with an option of a ₦250,000 fine.
