Joy Anyim
Eight vendors, illegally trading in Naira notes in Lagos, have been arrested by a combined team of the Lagos State Police Command, sister security agencies and the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The suspects, it was learnt were arrested in Ikeja and environs over the weekend.
Speaking on the arrest of the suspects, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Elkana Bala, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the suspects were arrested based on credible intelligence that had filtered to the Lagos Police Headquarters.
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Bala gave the identities of the suspects as: Adetoro Adijat, 37, Mahmoud Ayoola, 42, Eze Madu, 27, Olorunfunmi Shakirat, 38, Akonji Julius 40, Olalekan Kadri, 23, Akinsonya Abiodun, 34, and Adeniyi Yetunde, 30.
Giving details of the arrest, the PPRO said over N2 million cash was recovered from the suspects. “ The operation was carried out on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th July, 2019. Eight suspects were arrested in connection with the crime.
“ A cash sum of N2,440,550 mint of different denominations, used in the illicit trade, and other exhibits were recovered. Investigation is ongoing to ascertain the source of the mints currency.
“ The suspects will be charged to court under section 20 and 21 of the CBN Act 2007. It is a punishable offence under the CBN Act, for any person or group of persons to hawk, sale or otherwise trade in the Naira notes, coins or any note issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“ Upon conviction the offenders will be liable to imprisonment for not less than six months or a fine not less than N50,000 or both,” Bala explained.
While advising members of the public to desist from the act, the police command warned that hawking and selling of Naira notes, acts of spraying the Naira notes at occasions, soiling and writing on the Naira and squeezing the Naira are all punishable by the law.
The PPRO said, “ We all have a duty to protect the Naira as our currency forms part of the symbols of our national identity. The Command thereby appeal to the general public to report any person or group of persons seen abusing the Naira to the police or any law enforcement agency.”