The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two bankers, Ekpe Anayaoha Okoronkwo and Umeonuoha Onyinye, for allegedly selling newly minted N500,000 in Enugu.
They were arraigned on Thursday, December 12, 2024, on a one-count charge bordering on currency racketeering to the tune of N500,000.
The charge reads: “That you, Ekpe Anayaoha Okoronkwo and Umeonuoha Onyinye, sometime in October 2024 at Enugu, Enugu state, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, did sell a total sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000.00) mints in Two Hundred Naira Notes (N200) denominations, issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria to one Husseini Ibrahim and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21 (4) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007 and punishable under Section 21 (1) of the same Act”
Okoronkwo pleaded guilty to the charge, while Onyinye pleaded not guilty. Counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Ajobiewe, prayed the court for a short date to review the facts of the case regarding Okoronkwo. “In respect of the second defendant, we pray for a date for trial to enable the prosecution to prove its case”.
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar adjourned the matter to January 15, 2025, for the hearing of the bail application for Onyinye and for the conviction and sentencing of Okoronkwo. They were remanded at the Enugu State Correctional facility. The defendants were arrested on November 15, 2024, at their workplace located at 18 Okpara Avenue, Enugu State, following actionable intelligence linking them to the sale of Naira mints in Enugu State metropolis.
