The Oyo State command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in a joint operation with the officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), on Friday said no fewer than ten suspects have been arrested in connection with illegal sales of Naira notes in Ibadan, the state capital.
The arrest of the suspects is hinged on the CBN Act section 20 to counterfeit, hawk, sell or otherwise trade of the naira notes, coins or any other note issued by the apex bank.
State Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr. John Adewoye while parading the suspects at the command’s headquarters in Ibadan added that the arrested persons which where arrested during raid on illegal Naira notes vendors were apprehended between Thursday and Friday.
Those arrested include nine male and a female.
The suspects according to him include, Dotun Wahab 34, Kunle Oladipupo 35, Tijani Abiodun 32, Eniola Saheed 22 and Olanrewaju Adepoju 35.
Others are Obisesan Olalekan 31, Gbenga Omowaye 40, Samson Ojewola 24, Akintola Gboyega 31 and Anifat Abiodun 38.
Adewoye who declared that investigations have commenced on the matter to ascertain the source of the Nara notes remarked that a total sum of N1,010,40 was recovered from the suspects.
He said, “A total sum of N1,010,040 only consisting of various denominations recovered from the suspects. Investigations have already commenced on the matter to ascertain the source or otherwise of the new Naira notes.
“The NSCDC and CBN will continue this clam-down on the perpetrators of thus offence which is punishable under the CBN Act 2007. We assured you that the arrested persons would be charged to court as soon as investigation into the matter are concluded.
“For the avoidance of doubt, act of spraying the Nara notes at occasions, soiling and writing on it, squeezing handling as well as counterfeit of the country currency notes are abuse of the Naira and are punishable by the law”.
Editor, South-West,
Lagos Post Online
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