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By John Ogunsemore
A 24-year-old palm kernel dealer, Ikechukwu Jude Iziga (also known as Easy-money), has been sentenced to one year imprisonment for naira abuse in Enugu State.
Justice F. O. Giwa-Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu State, convicted and sentenced Iziga following his prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a Tuesday statement, the anti-graft commission said its Enugu Zonal Directorate arraigned the suspect on March 26, 2026, on a one-count charge bordering on mutilation of naira notes to the tune of N81,700 during his birthday celebration in February.
The lone -count charge reads: “That you, Iziga Jude Ikechukwu on 22nd February 2026, at Embassy Hotel Enugu Ezike, Enugu State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while celebrating your birthday, you danced and matched on the sum of Eighty-one thousand, Seven hundred Naira (N81, 700. 00) notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria. You thereby committed an offence to wit: mutilation, contrary to and punishable under Section 21 (1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007”.
He pleaded guilty to the charge.
Justice Giwa-Ogunbanjo thereafter convicted and sentenced Iziga to one year imprisonment from the date of arraignment with an option of fine of N300,000.
The court also ordered that the sum of N81,700 recovered from the convict be forfeited to the Federal Government through the commission.
The EFCC said its operatives arrested Iziga on February 28, 2026, at his residence located around timber market in Enugu-ezike, Enugu state, following an actionable intelligence received via a viral video circulating on social media in which he was seen recording himself, while abusing naira notes in his hotel room, during his birthday celebration.
