Notable figure in Nigeria’s Nollywood industry, Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, has been sentenced to six months in prison for tampering with recently issued naira notes.
The incident took place last year when Omoseyin was captured on video spraying and stepping on the redesigned currency at a party in Lagos.
Arrested in February of the same year after the video went viral, Omoseyin initially pleaded not guilty but later changed her plea to guilty, according to authorities. The video showed her displaying bundles of the newly issued currency while dancing at a friend’s wedding in Lekki, Lagos.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria’s anti-fraud agency, revealed that Omoseyin was recorded with 100,000 naira worth of notes during the event. In her statement to the commission, she asserted that she received the new naira notes from fans at the party and denied knowledge of the individuals who gave her the money.
During her court appearance, Omoseyin, also known as Simi Gold, appealed for leniency through her lawyer, citing her status as a first-time offender and a mother of one. She requested a non-custodial sentence, which the EFCC conveyed to the court.
In response, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke sentenced Omoseyin to six months in prison with the option to pay a $250 fine. It remains uncertain whether she intends to appeal against the ruling.
The incident unfolded against the backdrop of a severe scarcity of naira cash following the controversial withdrawal of old 200, 500, and 1,000 notes from circulation. In November, the Central Bank of Nigeria announced that the old banknotes would remain legal tender, resolving months of uncertainty surrounding the issue.
Below is a statement from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC):