NSCDC, CBN arrest 10 new naira note vendors in Ibadan

The Oyo State command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), in a joint operation with officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), have arrested 10 suspects in connection with illegal sale of naira notes in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

State Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr. John Adewoye while parading the suspects at the command’s headquarters in Ibadan, said they were arrested during a raid on illegal naira notes vendors in Ibadan, adding that the sum of N1,010,40 was recovered from them.

Adewoye said the arrest was in line with the CBN Act 2007 that bans counterfeiting, hawking, sale or otherwise trading of naira notes, coins or any other note issued by the apex bank.

The commandant who gave the names and ages of the suspects as Dotun Wahab, 34, Kunle Oladipupo, 35, Tijani Abiodun, 32, Eniola Saheed, 22, Olanrewaju Adepoju, 35, Obisesan Olalekan, 31, Gbenga Omowaye, 40, Samson Ojewola, 24, Akintola Gboyega, 31 and Anifat Abiodun, 38. He said investigations had commenced on the matter to ascertain the source of the naira notes.

“A total sum of N1,010,040 only consisting of various denominations was recovered from the suspects. Investigations have already commenced on the matter to ascertain the source or otherwise of the new Naira notes,” he said.

“The NSCDC and CBN will continue this clamp-down on the perpetrators of this offence which is punishable under the CBN Act 2007. We assure you that the arrested persons would be charged to court as soon as investigation into the matter is concluded.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the act of spraying naira notes at occasions, soiling and writing on it, squeezing it as well as counterfeiting the country’s currency notes are abuse of the naira and are punishable by law,” he said.