Credit: Gazettengr.com
In a recent legal development, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has handed down a six-month prison sentence to Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, an actress. The conviction comes in response to her involvement in spraying and stepping on new Naira notes during a social event in Lagos.
Omoseyin, initially charged by the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 13, 2023, pleaded “not guilty” to the two-count charges. However, she later changed her plea to “guilty” during the resumed hearing on Thursday, February 1, 2024, acknowledging the overwhelming evidence against her.
You will also like...
The charges against Omoseyin included tampering with N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) during a social occasion at the Monarch Event Centre, Lekki, Lagos, on January 28, 2023. This action was deemed a violation of Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.
Abubakar Mohammed Marafa, an EFCC operative, testified, recounting that Omoseyin was arrested by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on February 1, 2023, and subsequently handed over to the EFCC for further investigation. Evidence presented included her statement, a forensic report of her phone, a CD of videos depicting the money spraying incident, and a flash drive from the event center.
The defence counsel, Afuye Adegbola, appealed for leniency, emphasizing that Omoseyin was a first-time offender, a mother of one, and genuinely remorseful. He sought a non-custodial sentence for his client.
Justice Aneke, while admitting the presented evidence as exhibits, ultimately sentenced Omoseyin to six months in prison, effective immediately, with the alternative of a N300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) fine payable into the consolidated revenue account of the federation.
Omoseyin’s legal troubles began when she was apprehended by ICPC operatives in Ikoyi, Lagos, following the circulation of a viral video depicting her spraying and stepping on newly redesigned Naira notes at a party. In her statement to the Commission, she claimed to have received the money from unidentified fans at the event. Additionally, a Range Rover was seized from her at the time of arrest.
What’s your impression on this story?
