A prominent Nigerian actress, Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, has been sentenced to six months in prison for defacing the new naira notes during a social event in Lagos. The verdict was delivered by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Omoseyin was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for tampering with the new currency at a social gathering and was initially granted bail after pleading not guilty. However, she later changed her plea to guilty due to overwhelming evidence against her.
During the trial, it was revealed that Omoseyin was seen stepping and spraying the new naira notes during a friend’s wedding, as captured in videos found on her phone. The event center’s management also provided footage of the incident. The prosecution presented various exhibits, including her statement, a forensic report of her phone, and video evidence.
Despite a plea for leniency from her defense counsel, Omoseyin was sentenced to six months in prison or a fine of N300,000. The judge emphasized the severity of the offense despite her first-time offender status and being a mother.
The incident gained widespread attention after a viral video showed Omoseyin flaunting the defaced currency notes at the party. She claimed to have received the new notes from unknown individuals at the event and was arrested by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The case highlights the legal consequences of defacing currency as well as the impact of social media in exposing such behavior.
