Court jails five for spraying naira notes

The Delta State Division of the Federal High Court has sentenced five people to prison after finding them guilty of spraying naira notes in Delta State. 

According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the defendants, Ekweozor Divine, Udumeluo Godwin Chukwuebuka, Kennedy Uwadia, Godstime Ogie Eghosa and Bright Barry Imade, were sentenced by Justice F. A. Olubanjo on Thursday. 

During the hearing, Mr Olubanjo held that the offence committed by the convicts contravened Section 21(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007 and was punishable under Section 21(1) of the Act.

“Justice F. A. Olubanjo of the Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State, on Thursday, October 15,  2026, convicted and sentenced five persons to jail for abuse of naira notes. The convicts are Ekweozor Divine, Udumeluo Godwin Chukwuebuka, Kennedy Uwadia, Godstime Ogie Eghosa and Bright Barry Imade. 

“They were convicted on one count charge for offence bordering on spraying of naira notes, which is contrary to Section 21(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007 and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Act,” the agency said in a statement on Friday. 

The EFCC, however, did not disclose the duration of their prison sentences.

Under Nigerian law, naira abuse, which includes spraying, defacing and selling of the currency, is punishable by a minimum of six months’ imprisonment, a fine of at least ₦50,000, or both, but critics believe the law is only selectively enforced by the EFCC.

In 2024, crossdresser Idris Okuneye, aka Bobrisky, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to four counts of naira abuse. The EFCC prosecuted him for spraying naira at a social event.

Kannywood actress Saadatu Inuwa was also convicted in February this year after a video circulated on social media showing her wiping her nose with naira notes.