Okoli Frank Emeka, a Nigerian man, has been sentenced to six months in prison by the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, for tampering with and treading on Nigerian currency during a social event. Emeka was convicted after pleading guilty to a one-count charge of Naira mutilation filed by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The sentence was delivered on Friday, May 23, 2025.
According to EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, the charge arose from an incident that occurred on August 18, 2024, at Al-moruf Garden in the Isheri Olofin area of Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos. The charge stated that Emeka had tampered with N2 million issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by stepping on the notes during a social gathering, an act considered an offence under the law.
Following Emeka’s guilty plea, EFCC prosecutor Z.B. Atiku handed over the case to investigating officer Sa’id Sada Sani. Sani testified that the investigation began after a viral video showed Emeka defacing the currency. Surveillance was conducted, leading to his arrest on May 15, 2025. During questioning, Emeka was shown the video evidence and he provided a written statement.
The court accepted both the video and the written statement as evidence. Based on this, Atiku urged the court to convict the defendant. Presiding Judge Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke found Emeka guilty and sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment, offering an alternative option of a N250,000 fine.
