Court Sentences Man To Six Months In Prison For Naira Abuse In Lagos

The Lagos Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured the conviction of Okoli Frank Emeka, who was sentenced to six months in prison for mutilation of the Naira notes.

The verdict was delivered on Friday by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Okoli Frank Emeka was charged with one count of tampering with and matching of the Naira notes.

According to the charge, on August 18, 2024, during a social event at Al-moruf Garden in the Isheri Olofin area of Alimosho, Lagos, he was seen stepping on Naira notes totaling N2 million.

The charge reads: “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 (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 when the charge was read to him.

Following his plea, the EFCC’s lawyer, Z.B. Atiku, presented the facts of the case through an EFCC investigator, Sa’id Sada Sani.

Sani explained that the EFCC had launched an investigation after spotting a viral video showing Naira abuse.

He added that, “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.”

Sani said Okoli acknowledged the video in a written statement, noting that both the video and his statement were submitted and accepted as evidence in court.

The prosecution then urged the court to convict and sentence him.

Justice Aneke sentenced Okoli to six months in prison, but also gave him the option to pay a N250,000 fine instead.

KanyiDaily recalls that the EFCC said it will take action against ex-militant leader Chief Government Ekpemupolo, better known as Tompolo, over allegations of Naira abuse.