EFCC Arraigns Two Bankers In Enugu For Selling New Naira Notes

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arraigned two staff of one of the new generational banks, namely Ekpe Anayaoha Okoronkwo and Umeonuoha Onyinye, for allegedly selling newly-minted N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira).

The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the commission which arraigned the two suspects last week Thursday, December 12, 2024, before a Federal High Court, said they were arrested on November 15, 2024 at their workplace located at 18 Okpara Avenue, Enugu State, following actionable intelligence that linked them to the sale of Naira mints in Enugu State metropolis.

A statement by Dele Oyewale, Head, Media and Publicity of the EFCC, said that the two suspects were arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on currency racketeering to the tune of N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira), before the Federal High Court being presided over by Justice Mohammed Garba.

The one count charge read: “That you, Ekpe Anayaoha Okoronkwo and Umeonuoha Onyinye, sometime in October 2024 at Enugu, Enugu state, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, did sell a total sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500, 000. 00) mints in Two Hundred Naira Notes (N200) denominations, issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria to one Husseini Ibrahim and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21 (4) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007 and punishable under Section 21 (1) of the same Act”.

While the first defendant (Okoronkwo) pleaded guilty to the charge, the second accused (Onyinye), pleaded not guilty.

Following their pleas, counsel to the EFCC and Chief Superintendent of the EFCC, Rotimi Ajobiewe, urged the court to give a short date to review the facts of the case, regarding the first defendant.

Ajobiewe said; “In respect of the second defendant, we pray for a date for trial to enable the prosecution to prove its case.”

In his own prayers before the court, counsel to the second defendant, C. N. Agama prayed the court to remand Onyinye at the EFCC custody, pending the hearing of her bail application.

Justice Umar accordingly, adjourned the matter to January 15, 2025 for hearing of bail application for Onyinye as well as for the conviction and sentencing of Okoronkwo.

The court directed that the two suspects should be remanded at the Enugu State Correctional facility.

The EFCC further said that preliminary investigations revealed that the defendants allegedly sold a total sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500, 000. 00) mints in Two Hundred Naira Notes (N200) denominations, to one Husseini Ibrahim.