Man jailed two years for possessing, altering counterfeit currency

The Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi yesterday sentenced one Otere Olafiku to two years imprisonment for possessing and altering $50 notes.

The Makurdi zonal office of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Makurdi zonal had dragged the convict and two others to court on a two-count charge.

At earlier proceedings of the court, the trio had pleaded not guilty

But Olafiku later entered a plea bargaining with the Commission and changed not guilty to ‘guilty’.

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As a result of his guilty plea, and subsequent review of the facts of the case, the prosecution counsel, Y.Y Tarfa, prayed the court to convict him accordingly.

However, counsel to the convict I. M Mari, pleaded with the Court to temper justice with mercy, saying his client was a first-time offender.

Delivering the judgement, Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon sentenced the convict to two years imprisonment, with an option of fine of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000.00).