Federal High Court in Ilorin Sentences Three Currency Racketeers to Jail

In a decisive move against currency racketeering, Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court in Ilorin has handed down convictions and jail sentences to three individuals involved in the illicit trade of new naira notes.

The convicted individuals, identified as Asmau Sallah Wuraola, Owoduni Abdullahi Isa (known as Bolaji), and Shuaibu Rukayat, were sentenced on Monday, March 4, 2024. They had pleaded guilty to separate one-count charges brought by the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Wuraola’s charge specified that she traded in Naira Notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria at Arca Santa Event Center in Ilorin on February 17, 2024. The defendants, upon being read their charges, pleaded guilty.

Prosecuting counsel, Innocent Mbachie, presented new naira notes recovered from the accused as evidence. Following this, the court admitted the evidence and Mbachie urged for the conviction and appropriate sentencing.

Justice Anyadike, delivering the judgment, found Wuraola guilty and sentenced her to two months imprisonment, with an alternative fine of N50,000. The court ordered the forfeiture of N1,020,000 recovered from Wuraola to the Federal Government, along with the destruction of the POS machine seized at the time of her arrest.

Isa received a six-month jail term, with an alternative fine of N50,000, and the forfeiture of N150,000 to the Federal Government. Similarly, Rukayat was sentenced to six months imprisonment, an alternative fine of N50,000, and the forfeiture of N200,000.