Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, has convicted two social media influencers, Bukola Rufai and Abdulateef Jimoh, for defacing the Nigerian currency.
This was disclosed in a statement on Wednesday by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the EFCC, the duo were arraigned by its Ibadan Zonal Directorate on a one-count charge related to currency mutilation.
The charge read: “That you, Bukola Rufai and Abdulateef Jimoh, on or about September 25, 2024, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did trample on Naira notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 21 (3) of the Central Bank Act 2007 and punishable under Section 21 (1) of the same Act.”
Both defendants pleaded guilty, prompting EFCC counsel Lanre Suleiman to present the case details and evidence, and urge the court to convict and sentence them. Their lawyer, O.D. Ajadi, pleaded for leniency, noting they were first-time offenders and showed remorse.
Justice Agomoh found them guilty and imposed a fine of ₦50,000 each as an alternative to sentencing.
The EFCC noted that the duo had incriminated themselves by filming and uploading a video to TikTok where they sprayed and stepped on Naira notes.
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