Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has convicted and sentenced Emmanuel Ayodele Areola for hawking Naira notes on the streets of Lagos state.
Areola, who was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for hawking Naira notes was also made to forfeit the sum of N1,061,500 he was hawking to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
His charge sheet reads: “That you, EMMANUEL AYODELE AREOLA, on the 8th day of November, 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, engaged in hawking the total sum of N1,061,500 (One Million Sixty one Thousand Five Hundred Naira only) in N200 Naira note denomination, with serial numbers to A/26306876 to A/26 306976, W/50 084001 to W/50 084901, Z/12 224896 to Z/12224545 and N500 Naira note denomination, with serial numbers K/06388879 to K/06388980 and K/06 748246 to K/07 591193 issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(4) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2007.”
He pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him, which made the prosecution counsel, H.U.Kofarnaisa, reviewed the facts of the case and tendered the defendant’s statement in evidence.
She, thereafter, urged the court to convict the defendant and order the forfeiture of the money recovered from him to the Federal Government of Nigeria and her prayer was granted.
