Man jailed 30 years over fake Naira

Federal High Court sitting in Gombe, Gombe State, has sentenced one Mr. Sale Mohammed to 30 years imprisonment on a six-count charge of conspiracy and counterfeiting of Nigerian currency.




According to a statement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) whose North East Zonal office spearheaded the prosecution, other persons involved in the case include Abdulrahman Dawaki and Mohammed Chubado.

Femi Babafemi, Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC who signed the statement noted that the suspects were accused of counterfeiting and possessing N1, 000 and N500 , offences punishable under Section 1 (1) of the Counterfeit Currency (Special Provision) Act Cap C35 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

"At the time of arrest, the accused persons were found with counterfeit money totalling N150, 500 (One hundred and fifty thousand, five hundred Naira) only in N1000 and N500 Naira denominations. While Sale Mohammed, first accused pleaded guilty to all six charges, Abdulrahman Dawaki and Mohammed Chubado, 2nd and 3rd accused respectively pleaded not guilty.

"Counsel to EFCC, Hanafi Saád while reiterating the plea of the 1st accused Sale Mohammed to having pleaded guilty as charged, prayed the court to convict him accordingly and applied for a future date to call witnesses against the 2nd and 3rd accused persons.

"Sa’ad further informed the court that Sale was an unrepentant criminal; that when he was on EFCC bail in May 2009, he was caught on the street of Yola, Adamawa state, trying to buy oranges from a roadside trader with fake N1,000 note. He was promptly arrested and handed over to the Nigeria Police in the state," Babafemi said.

"The defence counsel, Herbert Nwoye, who stood in for the three accused persons, initially urged the presiding judge to explain the consequences of currency counterfeiting to the 1st accused "so that he can understand the implications of his plea".

"Justice Shuaibu took umbrage at the defence counsel and wondered why he should be the one to do the explanation as it was the duty of the counsel to have explained to his clients. Nwoye quickly withdrew his statement and pleaded with the judge to temper justice with mercy. He pleaded that the accused was willing to change and lead a more positive life.

"While sentencing the accused, Justice Shuaibu said , "after listening to both counsel, and taking into cognisance that the 1st accused had shown remorse and did not waste the time of the court in admitting his guilt, and taking into consideration the plea of the defence counsel and hoping that the accused will live a more positive life hereafter, I hereby sentence him to 5 years imprisonment on each of the six charges, with no option of fine, and the charges are to run concurrently".

The court adjourned to June 24 for further hearing while the 2nd and 3rd accused, Dawaki and Chubado were to be remanded in prison custody, the statement added.

Death penalty instead.

@ Ajaraewuro

So what will be the penalty for those who steal our money.

@ Ajaraewuro

So what will be the penalty for those who steal our money.

Thanks for that question jare.

These days, when you hear that somebody has been sentenced to imprisonment, just know that the person is a poor man/woman who has no godfather or financial muscle to do things the nigerian way. Bullshit!

30 years? Rather too much

haba, 30 years?. . . . na so dem one take kill enterprising Nigerians?

30 years for what?

Whilst worse criminals that destroy our society like Igbinedion got a N3m fine and no jail sentence.

oh wat a country.

If he is set free, you people will still complain. na wa o.

though is bad we all know it but is because Sala is not a politician or rather a well know person in d society if not he would have set free without anybody knowing what happen i bet u nija if the go into the story well u c that it might not be Sala that produce dat fake money many rich men do it conide with som or bank managers we all know what is going on in d country what about Ibori and co governors are they not guilty of the same offence where are they now plz let call a spade a spade nija has no law thats y? our currency has no value in the whole world now. Sala should not be blame why did people like travelling to US and some other Europe country?

north must have printing machines for doing tons of dodgy wrist watches, battries dollars and of course their choice currencies. why al the mallams no dey jail

I wonder how many year OBJ and IBB will be given for stealing the national funds