Two Jailed Over Currency Counterfeiting.

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Lagos Zonal Command, on Wednesday, secured the conviction and sentencing of one Iliyasu Garba and Joseph Ude before Justice K.O. Ogundare of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, for offences bordering on counterfeiting and possession of counterfeit currency.

They were arraigned alongside one Benjamin Opara on a five-count charge bordering on counterfeiting and possession of counterfeit currency.

However, while Garba and Ude pleaded “guilty”, Opara pleaded “not guilty”.

The prosecuting counsel, T.J. Banjo, thereafter called Adamu Yakubu, an operative of the EFCC, to review the facts of the case.

Yakubu told the court that the Nigerian Customs Service handed over one Ifeanacho Ugbor Marcellinus to the EFCC following his arrest for being in possession of counterfeit United States dollar bills to the tune of $10,000.

Justice Ogundare admitted and marked them as exhibits and declared the second and third defendants guilty as charged.

Justice Ogundare convicted and sentenced Garba and Ude to six months imprisonment from the day of arrest with an option of fine of N100,000.00.

The court adjourned till April 22, 2024, for the bail hearing of Opara. The judge remanded him at the Correctional Centre.