A Federal High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu, has sentenced a man, Iziga Jude Ikechukwu, also known as Easy money, to one year imprisonment for abusing naira notes during his birthday celebration.
In a statement issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the judgment was delivered by Justice F. O. Giwa Ogunbanjo after the defendant was prosecuted by the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Commission.
Ikechukwu was arraigned on March 26, 2026, on a one count charge bordering on the mutilation of naira notes amounting to N81,700.
The 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.
Following his plea, the court convicted and sentenced him to one year imprisonment from the date of arraignment, with an option of a N300,000 fine.
The court also ordered that the sum of N81,700 recovered from him be forfeited to the Federal Government through the Commission.
The 24 year old palm kernel dealer was arrested on February 28, 2026, at his residence around the timber market in Enugu Ezike, Enugu State, by operatives of the Commission.
His arrest followed actionable intelligence from a viral video circulating on social media, where he was seen recording himself while abusing naira notes in his hotel room during his birthday celebration.
He was subsequently charged to court and convicted.
