A DVD seller is now in police custody at Ilasan Division, Lekki, Eti-Osa , southwest Nigeria, over unlawful possession of N15,000 fake N1000 notes.

Chinedu Oneli, 37, after his arrest allegedly confessed to the police that he buys fake naira notes at Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos, and surreptitiously exchanges same for original notes through bus conductors and traders.

According to the police, nemesis caught up with the suspect, who claimed to be from Imo State, southeast Nigeria, when he went to buy a tin of milk with one of the fake N1,000 note at a shop owned by a woman at Jakande Estate, First Gate , Lekki, Lagos.

The trader, it was gathered, discovered that the N1,000 note the suspect brought out to pay for the tin of milk was fake.

And while pretending to be looking for change for Oneli, she allegedly informed some youths in the area about the development.

The youths were said to have confronted the suspect but the suspect simply took to his heels. He was pursued and caught by the youths.

During a search, N15,000 fake N1,000 notes were found in his possession and the youth dragged him to the nearest police station.

During interrogation at the station, the suspect allegedly confessed to that he bought the fake currency notes at Alaba Market, Ojo, Lagos.

Oneli allegedly told the police: " I am a DVD cassette seller at Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos and I also buy fake N1,000 notes from Zida Ozegba, a trader at Alaba market. I have been doing the business since 2010. Zida normally sells N8,000 fake notes for original N1,000 and N16, 000 fake notes for original N2,000.

" I exchange the fake notes for original naira through bus conductors and traders. I will board vehicles and give the conductors N1000 fake notes for a journey of N100 and they will give me N900 change. Before I move around Lagos the whole day, I must have finished spending the whole fake notes in my possession and make enough profit."

After investigation, the suspect was charged before a Tinubu Magistrate's court on a one count charge of possession of fake currency notes.

The offence, the prosecutor, Sgt. Ighodalo Daniel said, contravened section 363g of the criminal laws of Lagos state, 2011.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and Magistrate Mrs. Pinhero admitted him on bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

She adjourned the matter till 17 October, 2013 for mention. The defendant was taken to Ikoyi Prisons pending when he will fulfill the bail conditions.

--Paul Iyoghojie

Ngwakwe: 1. Please post on topic always. Don't derail
or tribalize threads.

I am yet to know what points the previous posters are trying to convey, can we condemn this criminal act with a strongest possible term.

I am from South East, Nigeria, I have never given or exchanged fake note / currency though I have received loads of them comprising N500 and N1000 denominations through my Sales Reps and cashier that have fallen victim of these fraudsters, yet I have never been tempted to exchange them in any circumstance.

Let's avoid associating this criminal behaviour with any tribe rather a universal vice that should be fought against and discouraged using every possible means, even the vendor according to the article is not from South East.

The accused pleaded
not guilty
to the charge and Magistrate
Mrs. Pinhero admitted him on
bail
in the sum of N100,000 with
two
sureties in like sum.

Mayor_of_Lagos:

Ngwakwe,

Why do ibos have leaders in Lagos and allow the image of your nationality to be tarnished by unscrupulous elements? Its not an individual racket, its a syndicate network oprrating in Alaba market. As long people like this put money above tribe and they are cheered, ibo collectively will bear the brunt of the insult.

Ngwakwe: 1. Please post on topic always. Don't derail
or tribalize threads.

I am yet to know what points the previous posters are trying to convey, can we condemn this criminal act with a strongest possible term.

I am from South East, Nigeria, I have never given or exchanged fake note / currency though I have received loads of them comprising N500 and N1000 denominations through my Sales Reps and cashier that have fallen victim of these fraudsters, yet I have never been tempted to exchange them in any circumstance.

Let's avoid associating this criminal behaviour with any tribe rather a universal vice that should be fought against and discouraged using every possible means, even the vendor according to the article is not from South East.

Mayor_of_Lagos: Obi, get ready, another one coming through for reunion.

Are there no Ibo elders in Lagos to call these guys to order and save them from collective embarassments?

Ngwakwe: You mean that I should stoop so low to generalising and profiling a people for crime of few individuals that are not representative of the people nor prevalent with them but universal.

Every tribe including yours have innumerable bad eggs but what matters is how the immediate community renounces, condemns and punishes such people among them.

Can you cite any reference were Igbo traders anywhere in the world have sided with a criminal who happens to be one of them?

On the issue of how Igbos in Lagos State decides to organise themselves and live their lives is none of your business.

If you don't mind can you take your obsession about the Igbos in South West to where the sun doesn't shine.

Crassus: they usually come to lagos with a nylon bag and leave with millions...

Mayor_of_Lagos: Obi, get ready, another one coming through for reunion.

Are there no Ibo elders in Lagos to call these guys to order and save them from collective embarassments?

chigodo: Don't mind these people that can never think properly,we've heard cases where yoruba boys were involved in terrorist activities in USA and in London and nobody generalised it that yorubas are terrorists because we understand that they are just the bad eggs among them but they are the ones that will easily generalise any single thing that happens to an ibo man.........*very biased set of people*

gratiaeo: N8000 fake with original
n1000? How much gain is the
printer making?
This new na fake joor, unless if
the suspect is not telling †ђξ
truth

spongeback: Ah sharp guy