Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State has sentenced a woman to one year imprisonment with no option of fine for being caught and arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for selling or hawking Nigeria legal tender, Naira currency, the woman, according to the court ruling, had been convicted before by another court for  naira abuse, this, as another Federal High Court also in Lagos State convicted a man and ordered the man to forfeit to the Federal Government more than £8000 he failed to declare or submit before the Nigerian Custom Service at the International Airport in Lagos, and in addition, the Court sentenced the man to six months imprisonment with option of ₦200,000 fine.

Details of the reports are presented verbatim below as reported and contained in the news release made available by the Public Relations Unit of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Court Jails Ex-convict, One other for Hawking Naira Notes in Lagos

Justice Yellin Bogoro of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, May 2, 2025, convicted and sentenced the duo of Folake Adeoti and Modupe Adewuyi to one year imprisonment, each for hawking Naira notes.

They were arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos on a separate one-count charge, bordering on illegal hawking of Naira notes.

The charge against Adeoti reads: “That you, Folake Adeoti, on the 21st day of March, 2025, opposite Regency Hall, Jobi Felé,Way, Ikeja, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, hawked the sum of ₦3,850,000.00, (Three Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(4)) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.”

That of Adewuyi reads: “That you, Modupe Adewuyi, on the 21st day of March, 2025, at Jobi Fele Street, opposite Regency Event Center, Alausa Ikeja, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, engaged in hawking the total sum of ₦1,600,000, (One Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira) of N500 and N1000 denominations, issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 21(4) and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2007.”

They pleaded “guilty” to their charges, following which prosecution counsel, Z.B. Atiku tendered their confessional statement as well as the money recovered from them in evidence and urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. The prosecution counsel further informed the court that Adeoti was an ex-convict, having been prosecuted before Justice Ibrahim Kala and convicted on the same matter of Naira abuse.

Justice Bogoro sentenced Adeoti to one year imprisonment without an option of fine. In addition, her POS machine as well as the money recovered from her were forfeited to the federal government. Adewuyi also bagged one year imprisonment or to pay ₦500,000, (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) fine. In addition, her POS machine and money recovered from her were also forfeited to the federal government.

Adeoti and Adewuyi were intercepted on March 21, 2025 along Jobi Fele Way, Ikeja, Lagos, while hawking Naira notes to the tune of ₦3,850,000.00 and ₦1,600,000, respectively.

Alleged Money Laundering: EFCC Re-arraigns Man for Non-declaration of $90,000

The Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Okotie-Eboh, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday , May 2, 2025, re- arraigned one Alhaji Ahmed Shaw before Justice D.I Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos for money laundering.

He was arrested on March 3, 2025 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, for non-declaration of the sum of $90,000, (Ninety Thousand United States Dollars) and was handed over to the EFCC for further investigations.

He was arraigned on April 3, 2025 on a one-count charge, bordering on money laundering.

The charge reads: “That you, Alhaji Ahmed Shaw, on the 3rd day of March, 2025 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, failed to make a declaration of the sum of $90,000, (Ninety Thousand United States of America Dollars) to the Nigeria Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022.” He pleaded “ not guilty” to the charge when it was read to him.

At the sitting on April 15, 2025, the prosecution presented the First Prosecution Witness, PW1, Danladi Ibrahim, an NDLEA operative in the matter. However, at the resumed sitting of May 2, 2025, defence counsel, E.I. Ogundeji, informed the court that the defendant wished to change his “not guilty” plea.

He was, therefore re-arraigned on the same charge to enable him take his new plea and he pleaded “guilty.” Following his new plea, prosecution counsel, Z.B Atiku, called on Aminu Lawal, an operative of the EFCC, to review the facts of the case.

Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Lawal told the court that the defendant was arrested with the sum of $90,000, which he failed to declare. “His statement was recorded under caution and he narrated that he did not declare the sum of $90,000, (Ninety Thousand United State Dollars), ” he said.

Lawal identified the defendant’s statement, the handover note from the NDLEA, the arresting officer’s statement as well as the sum of $90,000, (Ninety Thousand US Dollars), which were all tendered in evidence.

Justice Dipeolu adjourned the matter till May 6, 2025 for delivery of judgment.

Court Jails Man for Non-declaration of £8020, $704 in Lagos Airport

Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, May 2, 2025, convicted and sentenced one Agudosi Christopher Okechukwu to six months imprisonment for non-declaration of foreign currencies at Lagos Airport.

Okechukwu was arrested in December 2024 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos by operatives of the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS for non-declaration of the sums of £8020, (Eight Thousand and Twenty British Pounds) and $704, (Seven Hundred and Four Dollars) and handed over to the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Okotie Eboh, Ikoyi, Lagos for further investigations.

He was arraigned on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 on a two-count charge, bordering on money laundering.

One of the charges reads: “That you, Agudosi Christopher Okechukwu, on the 10th day of December, 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, failed to make a declaration of the sum of £8,020, (Eight Thousand and Twenty Pounds Sterling) to the Nigerian Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

He pleaded “guilty” to the charges following which prosecution counsel, C.C. Okezie called on Abubakar Magaji, an EFCC operative to review the facts of the case.

Magaji informed the court that Okechukwu had a total sum of £15,020, (Fifteen Thousand and Twenty British Pounds) and $704, (Seven Hundred and Four Dollars) and that while he declared £7000, (Seven Thousand British Pounds) he kept back £8020, (Eight Thousand and Twenty Pounds Sterling) and $704, (Seven Hundred and Four Dollars), claiming that he lost his brother and was going to use the undeclared sums to fly his corpse back to the country.

At Friday’ sitting, Justice Bogoro convicted and sentenced him to six months imprisonment on both counts or to pay ₦200, 000, (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) on each. In addition, he forfeited the sums of £8,020 and $704 to the federal government.

Osazuwa Akonedo

Osazuwa Akonedo is a Nigerian media professional, author, and consultant. His work spans various sectors of communication and literature: Journalism and Media: He is the founder of OsazuwaAkonedo, which focuses on news analysis and commentary. He also provides consultancy services in media and banking. Literature: He is a published playwright and author of Nigerian literature. One of his notable works is the drama titled The End Shall Tell: What Exam Malpractice Can Cause, which addresses educational and social issues in Nigeria. Reporting: He frequently reports on regional news, particularly concerning Edo State and broader Nigerian current affairs. Credit: Google Gemini AI Mode Osazuwa Akonedo is a Nigerian media creator, journalist, and entrepreneur who engages audiences via news reporting, social media content, music, and a mobile application. Professional Background and Company Osazuwa Akonedo is associated with OSAZUWAAKONEDO LIMITED, a company registered in Nigeria that operates in media consultancy and news services  The company is headquartered in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, and has been active in publishing news in various formats including text, audio, video, and photos  Social Media and Online Platforms Osazuwa Akonedo maintains a strong online presence on several platforms: TikTok: Shares news updates and reports, for example, covering police operations in Nigeria  YouTube: Operates a channel where he uploads videos on current affairs and news content  Twitter/X: Active under the handle @akonedo_osazuwa, posting updates on events and news  Facebook: Profiles listing his connection to news and media activities can be found on Facebook  Mobile App: Offers a dedicated mobile application for news access through Google Play (Osazuwa Akonedo News App) providing text, video, and photo news formats  News Reporting and Content He produces news content covering national and local stories, including criminal activities, government updates, and investigative reports   His reporting spans multiple formats, making it accessible to a wide audience through online platforms, mobile apps, and social media  Other Contributions In addition to journalism, Osazuwa Akonedo has also ventured into audio releases, such as “Former Justice Minister Abubakar Malami Begs Nigerians For Justice” released on January 25, 2026   He also hosts podcasts documenting significant events, e.g, NDLEA arrests related to historical criminal cases  Summary Osazuwa Akonedo is a multifaceted media professional engaged in journalism, social media content creation, music, and technology via his news app. He utilizes platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Twitter/X, Facebook, and mobile applications to disseminate news and reach audiences both locally and internationally Credit: Azure AI

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