The Federal High Court in Ibadan has convicted and sentenced two siblings, Amos Remilekun Ilesanmi and Olanrewaju Samuel Ilesanmi, along with Ugbeh Emmanuel Ukali, to six months imprisonment each for naira notes mutilation.
Justice Uche Agomoh handed down the sentence without an option of fine, following their arraignment by the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 25, 2025. The court also ordered the forfeiture of ₦391,400—the amount they sprayed—to the federal government.
The charge against them stated:
“That you Ilesanmi Amos Remilekun, Ilesanmi Olanrewaju Samuel, and Ugbeh Emmanuel Ukali on or about 6th June 2024 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court sprayed the total sum of N391,400.00 (Three Hundred and Ninety-One Thousand, Four Hundred Naira) of N500 and N200 denominations issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(4) of the Central Bank Act, 2007 and punishable under Section 21(1) of the same Act.”
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The defendants pleaded guilty to the charge, after which the prosecution counsel, Abideen Muhammad Aliyu, presented EFCC operative Adegbite Adebayo as a witness. Adebayo tendered incriminating documents and items before urging the court to convict and sentence them.
Defense counsel, Akinlabi Akinfala, pleaded for leniency, arguing that they were first-time offenders who had shown remorse. However, Justice Agomoh upheld the prosecution’s case and ruled accordingly.
The Ilesanmi brothers were previously convicted for internet fraud in 2024, while Ukali was already facing trial for a separate internet fraud charge. Their arrest stemmed from an incident at a nightclub in Akure, Ondo State, in June 2024, where they were caught spraying and trampling on naira notes.