Joseph Bakare
Justice F. O. Giwa-Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu State, has convicted and sentenced one Iziga Jude Ikechukwu (also known as Easy-money) to one year imprisonment, for abusing Naira notes during his birthday celebration.
The convict was arraigned by the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on March 26, 2026 on a one-count charge bordering on mutilation of Naira notes to the tune of N81, 700. 00 (Eighty-one thousand, Seven Hundred Naira).
The lone -count charge reads: “That you, Iziga Jude Ikechukwu on 22nd February 2026, at Embassy Hotel Enugu Ezike, Enugu State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while celebrating your birthday, you danced and matched on the sum of Eighty-one thousand, Seven hundred Naira (N81, 700. 00) notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria. You thereby committed an offence to wit: mutilation, contrary to and punishable under Section 21 (1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007”.
He pleaded guilty to the charge. Justice Giwa-Ogunbanjo thereafter convicted and sentenced Ikechukwu to one year imprisonment from the date of arraignment with an option of fine of N300, 000. 00 (Three hundred thousand Naira). The court also ordered that the sum of N81, 700. 00 (Eighty-One thousand, Seven hundred Naira) recovered from the convict be forfeited to the Federal Government through the Commission.
The convict, 24 year-old palm kernel dealer was arrested on February 28, 2026 at his residence located around timber market in Enugu-ezike, Enugu state, by operatives of the EFCC following an actionable intelligence received via a viral video circulating on social media in which he was seen recording himself, while abusing Naira notes in his hotel room, during his birthday celebration. He was charged to court and convicted.