Actress Sentenced to 6 Months Imprisonment for Spraying, Stepping on Naira Notes

In a landmark judgment, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has sentenced actress Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin to six months in prison for her involvement in tampering with and disrespecting the new Nigerian Naira notes during a social event.

The actress was convicted on two-count charges brought against her by the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

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Omoseyin, who initially pleaded not guilty to the charges, changed her plea to guilty during the recent court hearing, acknowledging her involvement in the incident. The charges specified that on January 28, 2023, at Monarch Event Centre in Lekki, Lagos, she tampered with the sum of N100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying the notes during a social occasion.

The prosecution counsel presented evidence, including the defendant’s statement under caution, videos from the event showing her actions, and additional investigations carried out by the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The defence counsel pleaded for leniency, emphasizing that Omoseyin is a first-time offender, a mother of one, and expresses remorse for her actions. He further requested a non-custodial sentence on behalf of the convict.

Justice Aneke, in delivering the judgment, sentenced Omoseyin to six months imprisonment, effective immediately, with an option of a N300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) fine to be paid into the consolidated revenue account of the federation. The judge considered factors such as Omoseyin being a first-time offender and her expression of remorse.

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Omoseyin’s arrest by ICPC operatives occurred after a video went viral, showcasing her spraying and stepping on the newly redesigned Naira notes at a party. In her statement, she claimed to have received the new notes from unidentified fans at the event. Alongside the prison sentence, a Range Rover was recovered from her at the point of arrest. The judgment serves as a reminder of the legal consequences associated with the mishandling of national currency.