Currency Mutilation: Nigerian Man Jailed For Using Coins To Make Jewelry

A man identified as Ibrahim Musa Dabai has been arraigned before Justice M.N Yunusa of the Federal High Court sitting in Kano by the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a one-count charge bordering on tampering with Nigerian currency.

Mr. Ibrahim, was arrested by officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA along Abuja-Kaduna Expressway with coins which he claims he uses to produce jewelry for commercial purposes.

He was subsequently handed over to the EFCC for further investigation.

The convict during the course of investigation stated that he has been in the business of converting coins into jewelry ranging from rings, earrings, bracelets and others for 25 years.

The charge reads, “that you, Ibrahim Musa Dabai sometime in March, 2023 at Kano, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, voluntarily engaged in tampering with Nigerian currency to wit: coins issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria when you used same to produce jewelry for commercial purpose and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21 (1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007”.

He pleaded guilty to the charge. The prosecution counsel, N. Salele urged the court to convict the defendant accordingly.

Justice Yunusa convicted and sentenced the defendant to 3 months imprisonment or a fine of N30,000.

In addition, the mutilated currency is to be returned to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN for destruction according to the provisions of the CBN Act, 2007.