Photos: Suspected currency counterfeiters with fake $270,000 nabbed in Abuja

Nigeria’s anti-graft agency- the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arrested two suspected currency counterfeiters: Johnson Olumoyegun and Tanko Abubakar, in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The suspects were arrested on Thursday and Friday, October 6 and 7, 2022 in Kubwa and Area 3 Axis of Abuja, with fake $270,000 (Two Hundred and Seventy Thousand United States Dollars).

Olumoyegun also impersonated an officer of the Commission, using a fake EFCC ID card with the name Solomon David. He also carried an ECOWAS Passport with the name, Isa Bello.

EFCC added that the two suspects will be charged in court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Also, the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction and sentencing of no fewer than six internet fraudsters to various jail terms.

The convicts are Agboola Khalid Babatunde, Okuneye Olamilekan Damilola, Quadri Ahmed Olawale, Okafor Chibuzor Michael, Lawal Emmanuel Adekunle and Victor Abumere Aigbe.

Babatunde, Olawale and Aigbe were arraigned on separate count charges that bordered on impersonation, an offence contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State 2000 and while Michael was docked on two counts for stealing.

Damilola was arraigned on one count charge of aiding and abetting while Adekunle was docked on one count charge of impersonation. The convicts pleaded guilty to the offences preferred against them by the EFCC.

They all pleaded guilty to their respective charges.

Consequent, prosecution counsel, Modupe Akinkoye, Abdulrasheed Suleiman, Mabas Mabur and Shamsuddeen Bashir reviewed the facts of the cases and prayed the courts to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.

Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State convicted and sentenced Adekunle to one-year imprisonment while Justice Bayo Taiwo of the State High Court, Ibadan, Oyo State convicted and sentenced Olawale and Aigbe to six months community service, while Michael bagged two months community service.

Justice Olusola Adetujoye of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan sentenced Babatunde to three months of community service while Damilola was sentenced to six months imprisonment by Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The courts further ordered the convicts to restitute their various victims and forfeit all items recovered from them to the Federal Government of Nigeria.