Man bags six months jail term for Naira abuse in Benin

A Nigerian man identified as Osazee Kenneth Imagbenikaro has been sentenced to six months imprisonment for spraying naira notes.

In the judgment delivered by Justice C.A. Obiozor of the Federal High Court sitting in Benin City on Thursday, Imagbenikaro was convicted on a two-count charge for an offense pertaining to spraying naira notes.

The offense, committed on Thursday, May 16, 2024, is contrary to Section 21(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (Establishment) Act 2007 and punishable under Section 21(1) of the same Act.

According to a statement released on the official X account of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday, Imagbenikaro pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him in court.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Osazee Kenneth Imagbenikoro (m), on or about the 28th day of April 2023 at Ogida Police Barracks, Benin City, Edo State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did spray N100 notes at a funeral ceremony and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (Establishment) Act 2007 and punishable under Section 21(1) of the same Act.”

Following his pleading, Justice Obiozor convicted and sentenced the defendant to six months imprisonment. He was also given the option of a fine of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand) on each of the counts labeled against him.

However,  Imagbenikaro’s conviction was not the first to be secured by the anti-graft agency  over naira abuse. Recall that controversial crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky was sentenced to six months in jail without the option of a fine on April 12, 2023 for the same offense.