Retired Army Turned Farmer Convicted For Printing Fake Naira Notes-Exclusive To Ttk

A poultry Farmer James Onwuso has been sentenced  seven years in prison by a federal high court in Lagos south west Nigeria for printing and been in possession of fake counterfeit Naira notes.

The convict was arraigned before the court sometimes in 2012 and he pleaded not guilty, was granted bail, but he was unable to meet the condition of the bail consequently he was remanded in prison custody until today when he was convicted.

In proving her case the prosecutor, Mrs Kehinde Bode-Ayeni from Attorney General's office called one witness Moruf Animashaun, the investigating Police Officer. Who tendered the confessional statement Of the accused, the counterfeit Naira notes, letter from Central Bank of Nigeria confirming that the Naira notes found with the accused person was fake, the printing machine, and ink.

According to story reaching Ttk, Onwuso's (counsels) Amos Igwe and his principal victor Nwana walked out of the court and refused to go on with the matter there by making claiming that they have another matter in another court while convict asked Mr Amos Igwe not to represent him.

From the evidence tendered, a warrant of arrest was issued the accused gave a confessional statement stating how he served in the Nigerian Army and upon retirement set up poultry farm before embarking on   printing of fake Naira notes.         

The presiding Judge, Ibrahim Buba in his Verdict said" It is not difficult for me to arrive at the verdict as the prosecution has proved the case beyond any reasonable doubts and the accused is hereby convicted accordingly on all the charges"

Prosecuting counsel from the office of the Attorney General Mrs Kehinde Bode-Ayeni the Federation thanked the judge for a well-considered Judgement, Onwuso who had no legal representation in a mercy-plea, pleaded with the court that for the sake of his mother's burial coming up today and for the sake of his children who had been out of school since his arrest to temper justice with mercy and pardon him.

Ttk was informed that Justice Buba further said "In view of his plea and facts before me, you are hereby sentenced to seven years imprisonment on count one and another seven years for counts, two and three, sentence to run concurrently beginning with the time of his arrest 15th November, 2015 while the counterfeit notes and machines seized from the convict should be forwarded to Central Bank of Nigeria for destruction".

He also gave directives that the records of the court be forwarded to Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, Chief Judge of the supreme Court and Attorney General of the Federation for disciplinary action against the two defence Lawyers that walked out on him.

James Onwuso of 29,Sosanya Street Gbagada, Lagos was arrested on the 15th November, 2011 and  arraigned of a three count charge for falsely making N1,000, N500 and N200 denominations of Nigerian currency resembling bank naira notes issued by Central Bank of Nigeria as a legal tender, and without lawful authority possessing machines used forgery.

An offense said to be contrary to sections 1 (1) & 2 of the Counterfeit Currency (Special Provision) Act Cap C35 of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under the same Act.