In the Federal High Court in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, Justice M. A. Oyetenu found Etiusen Stephen guilty of spraying naira notes.
On July 19, 2024, Etiusen Stephen was brought before the court on two charges related to mistreating naira notes, says DAILY POST.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said he broke the rules in Section 21 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act.
The charges included that on June 27, 2024, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Etiusen Stephen sold forty thousand naira (N40,000.00) to Edidiong Usoro, breaking Section 21 (4) of the 2007 Central Bank of Nigeria Act and punishable under Section 21 (1) of the same Act.
When the charges were read, Etiusen Stephen said ‘guilty’ to both charges.
Because he pleaded guilty, Joshua Abolarin, who argued for the prosecution, asked the court to convict and sentence him and to give the money taken from him to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
His defense lawyer, Udeme Tom, asked the court to be lenient because Etiusen was sorry for his actions and had never committed a crime before.
After hearing this, Justice Onyetenu found Etiusen guilty and decided that the N40,000 taken from him should be given to the government.
Etiusen was arrested on June 27, 2024, in the Shelter Afrique area of Akwa Ibom State, along with ten others, while partying at Ken’s Court Luxury Apartments.
The EFCC said he was caught spraying naira notes and stepping on them while dancing.