EFCC Secures Convictions Against 10 Over Naira Abuse

(Ten Nigerians convicted for abuse of naira. Photo Credit: Premuim Times)

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), through its Benin Zonal Directorate, has obtained convictions against 10 individuals for naira abuse in different cases heard before the Federal High Court in Delta and Edo states.

The anti-corruption agency made this known in a statement shared on social media on Monday.

The EFCC named the convicted persons as Lucky Onoberhie, Happy Isioma, Friday Ehiedu, Collins Albert, Okorie Builder, Ernest Achieme, Isicheli Chijioke, Nwosu Davison, Enadegh Agbonmware, and Lucky Osaro.

The defendants faced prosecution for defacing the naira by spraying it while dancing at social gatherings, an offence covered under Section 21(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.

Among the cases, one charge against Achieme claimed he sprayed N50,000 in N200 notes while dancing at a wedding held in Kwale, Delta State, on December 31, 2025.

According to the commission, all the accused persons entered guilty pleas once the charges were read out to them, after which prosecuting counsel K. W. Chukwuma-Eneh urged the courts to proceed with conviction and sentencing.

At the Federal High Court in Asaba, Justice F. A. Olubanjo convicted Onoberhie, Isioma, Ehiedu, Albert, Builder, Achieme, Chijioke, and Davison, handing each of them a 12-month prison term with the alternative of a N100,000 fine.

In a separate ruling delivered at the Federal High Court in Benin City, Justice C. A. Obiozor convicted Agbonmware of naira spraying and sentenced him to six months in prison or a N100,000 fine.

The same judge also convicted Osaro on a similar charge, imposing an identical sentence of six months’ imprisonment or a N100,000 fine.

The EFCC stated that all those convicted signed written undertakings pledging good conduct going forward, adding that the individuals had been arrested and charged for violating existing laws that prohibit the abuse of the naira.

An online news platform had reported in February on a similar case involving a Kannywood actress who was sentenced to six months in prison by a federal high court over naira mutilation and abuse.