The Anambra State Police
Commissioner, Mr Garba Umar, said the operation that led to the arrest of the
suspects was jointly carried out by the police, the Department of State
Services and the Central Bank of Nigeria.
He warned that the command
would no longer tolerate the abuse of the nation’s currency, the naira.
He gave the names of the
suspects as Clementina Uche who is the only female; Emeka Wilfred, Anthony
Onyebuchi, James Odumodu, Peterson Olabuche, Apeh Ekene, and Valentine Ekwueme.
Umar said,
“On Wednesday, December 20,
2017, at about 1300hrs, the Command in collaboration with the Department of
State Services and the Central Bank of Nigeria carried a sting operation, aimed
at forestalling illicit sale of naira note (mint).
“The clampdown 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 CBN.
“Whereas section 21
sub-section 1, makes it an offence punishable by a term of imprisonment of not
less than six months or a fine not less than N50,000 or both for any person to
hawk, sell or otherwise trade in naira notes, coins or any other notes issued by
the CBN.”
He said N4,304,550 was
recovered from the suspects.
The CP added,
“The command wants to use
this opportunity to warn the public to desist from abusing the naira as it is
one of the symbols of our national identity.”
He assured Nigerians that
the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigation was concluded.
Umar added,
“We wish to also remind the
general public that the acts of spraying naira notes on occasions, soiling and
writing on it, squeezing it are abuse of the naira and are punishable as
appropriate.”
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