Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, has convicted two social media influencers, Bukola Arike Rufai and Abdulateef Ayinde Jimoh, for abusing naira notes.
The convicts were prosecuted on a joint one-count charge that bordered on currency mutilation by the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The charge read: “That you Bukola Arike Rufai and Abdulateef Ayinde Jimoh on or about the 25th day of September, 2024 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did match on Naira Notes, issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 21 (3) of the Central Bank Act 2007 and Punishable under Section 21 (1) of the same Act.”
According to a statement signed by the agency’s Head, Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, which was made available to journalists in Ibadan, the convicted pleaded “guilty” when the charge was read, following which the prosecution counsel, Lanre Suleiman, reviewed the facts of the case and tendered incriminating evidence, praying the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
The defence counsel, O.D. Ajadi told the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that the duo are first offenders and have become remorseful of their actions.
Justice Agomoh convicted both offenders without imposing a sentence and gave them a fine of N50,000.00 each.
Both convicts paved their way for arrest and prosecution when they made a video of themselves, spraying and trampling on naira notes and posting it on Tiktok.
(Guardian)
