Woman, 6 others arrested in Onitsha for hawking N4.3m naira notes

Seven persons have been arrested by the Anambra police over alleged illegal sale and hawking of N4.3 million mint naira notes in Onitsha, the commercial city of the state. The suspects, a woman and six men, were arrested on December 20, 2017, at about 1300hrs at the Building materials market in Ogbogwu area of the […]

Seven persons have been arrested by the Anambra police over alleged illegal sale and hawking of N4.3 million mint naira notes in Onitsha, the commercial city of the state.

The suspects, a woman and six men, were arrested on December 20, 2017, at about 1300hrs at the Building materials market in Ogbogwu area of the town.

Parading the suspects at the police headquarters in Amawbia, the Commissioner of police, Umar Garba, noted that the suspects were nabbed by the Command in collaboration with the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) during a sting operation, aimed at forestalling illicit sale of naira notes (Mint).

"The clamp-down on the suspects is hinged on the Central Bank of  Nigeria(CBN) Act section 20 and 21 thereof; Section 20 sub section 4,makes it an offence punishable by a term of imprisonment not less than five years for any person to falsify, make or counterfeit any bank notes or coin issued by the bank.

"Whereas section 21 sub section 1, makes it an offence punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than six (6) months or a fine not less than fifty thousand naira (₦50,000.00) or both for any person to hawk, sell or otherwise trade in the Naira Notes, coins or any other notes issued by the Bank," he stated.

Revealing that two others who escaped were still at large, the commissioner said exhibits of the said cash sum were recovered from the suspects.

He warned the public to desist from abusing the naira notes, saying it is one of the symbols of the nation’s identity.

Umar further assured that the arrested persons would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.

"We wish to remind the general public that the act of spraying naira notes at occasions, soiling and writing on it and squeezing it are abuse of the naira," Umar added.