The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of 10 people for abusing the naira by spraying the currency at social events in Delta State and Edo State.
The anti-graft agency announced the convictions in a statement released on Monday, saying the offenders were found guilty by the Federal High Courts in Asaba and Benin City after pleading guilty to charges brought against them.
According to the EFCC, the convicted persons were arrested for spraying naira notes while dancing at parties, an act prohibited under Section 21(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007. The commission said the convictions are part of its continued efforts to enforce laws protecting Nigeria’s currency.
The convicts are Lucky Onoberhie, Happy Joseph Isioma, Friday Ehiedu, Collins Ndudi Albert, Okorie Builder, Ernest Achieme, Isicheli Desmond Chijioke, Nwosu Davison, Enadegh Agbonmware and Lucky Osaro.
The EFCC said they were prosecuted before Justice F. A. Olubanjo of the Federal High Court, Asaba, and Justice (Prof.) C. A. Obiozor of the Federal High Court, Benin City.
One of the charges against Achieme stated that he tampered with N50,000 in N200 denominations by spraying the money while dancing at a wedding ceremony in Kwale on December 31, 2025, an offence punishable under the Central Bank of Nigeria Act.
The commission said all the defendants pleaded guilty after the charges were read to them, prompting the prosecution counsel, K. W. Chukwuma-Eneh, to ask the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Justice Olubanjo convicted Onoberhie, Isioma, Ehiedu, Ndudi, Builder, Achieme, Chijioke and Davison, sentencing each to 12 months’ imprisonment or the option of a N100,000 fine.
Justice Obiozor also convicted Agbonmware and Osaro, sentencing each to six months’ imprisonment or the option of a N100,000 fine for similar offences.
The EFCC said all 10 convicts also signed written undertakings promising to maintain good conduct and refrain from abusing the naira in the future.
The commission reiterated that spraying, mutilating or otherwise mishandling the naira at parties and other social gatherings is a criminal offence under the Central Bank of Nigeria Act and warned Nigerians to comply with the law.
