Court jails woman caught hawking currency in Lagos

Adeyinka Bilikis Gbadamosi, a resident of Lagos, was sentenced to six months in prison after entering a guilty plea to a single count of currency racketeering brought against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, or EFCC. 

Gbadamosi was arraigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. Gbadamosi was arrested on April 27, 2024, while hawking Naira notes at 10 Degree Event Centre, Billings Way, Ikeja, Lagos, in response to credible intelligence received by the EFCC.

The count reads: “That you, Adeyinka Bilikis Gbadamosi, on the 27th of April, 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, engaged in hawking the total sum of N897,900 (Eight Hundred and Ninety Seven Thousand, Nine Hundred Naira) in N200 Naira note denomination, with serial numbers 688101 and N500 Naira note denomination, with serial numbers 315501 issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(4) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2007.”

She pleaded “guilty” to the charge when it was read to her.

Olagunju Abdul Malik, an EFCC agent, was invited by prosecution attorney C.C. Okezie to go over the case facts after the defendant entered a guilty plea. 

According to Abdulmalik, the defendant was apprehended on April 27, 2024, while peddling Naira notes at the 10 Degree Event Centre, Billings Way, Ikeja, Lagos. 

The Commission had obtained reliable information about the defendant's whereabouts. He claims that at the time of her arrest, N897,900 was taken from her.

“Upon her arrest by operatives, she was duly cautioned and she volunteered her statements.

“In her statement, she confessed she was into currency racketeering and hawking of Naira notes,” he said.

Subsequently, Okezie attempted to present the money that was recovered from the defendant as well as her extrajudicial utterances as evidence. 

Judge Aneke found the defendant guilty after admitting them and marking them as exhibits. A.A. Olawipo's attorney asked the court for a non-custodial sentence or the choice of a fine. 

The defendant was sentenced by Justice Aneke to six months in prison, with the possibility of a N50,000 (fifty thousand naira only) fine. The judge further mandated that the Federal Government of Nigeria forfeit the N897,900 that was taken from her.

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