According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Crimes Commission, Bilikis Adeyinka, a lady, has been found guilty of selling naira notes for a living in the Lagos State neighborhood of Ikeja.
In a Thursday post on its Facebook page, the EFCC revealed that the convict was apprehended for violating Section 21(4) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2007 by peddling N897,900.
Adeyinka was charged with one count of offense bordering on currency racketeering after being arrested. She allegedly entered a guilty plea to this charge when she was arraigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of a Federal High Court located in Ikoyi, Lagos State.
The statement read further, “Following her guilty plea, prosecution counsel, C.C. Okezie, called on Olagunju Abdul Malik, an operative of the EFCC, to review the facts of the case.
“Abdulmalik told the court that the defendant was arrested on April 27, 2024, while hawking naira notes at 10 Degree Event Centre, Billings Way, Ikeja, Lagos, following credible intelligence received by the commission.
“According to him, the sum of N897,900 was recovered from her at the point of arrest. Upon her arrest by operatives, she was duly cautioned and she volunteered her statements.”
Following the evidence presentation, the offender was reportedly sentenced by Justice Aneke to six months in prison, with the possibility of a N50,000 fine.
The judge further mandated that the Federal Government of Nigeria forfeit the N897,900 that was taken from her.
In a similar event, the EFCC’s Maiduguri Zonal Command on Tuesday detained five Bureau de Change operators.
In response to reliable information regarding their involvement in the sale of foreign currencies, the suspects were taken into custody at the Borno State Hajj Camp, which is located in the Sir Kashim Ibrahim College of Education in Maiduguri, the EFCC said in a statement on Thursday.
The statement read, “Operatives of the Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, arrested five suspected illegal Bureau De Change operators in Maiduguri, Borno State.
“The suspects were arrested in Borno State Hajj camp, situated at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim College of Education, Maiduguri. Their arrest followed credible intelligence about their involvement in the sale of foreign currencies.”
It was decided by the anti-graft agency that the suspects would face legal action after the inquiry was completed.
