Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, delivered a verdict that convicted and sentenced Nigerian actress Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin to six months imprisonment for her involvement in a controversial incident where she was captured spraying and stepping on newly minted Naira notes during a social event held at Monarch Event Centre, Lekki, Lagos, on January 28, 2023.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) revealed in a statement on Thursday that Omoseyin had initially faced two-count charges when she was arraigned on February 13, 2023.
One of the charges accused her of tampering with the sum of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) during the social occasion, violating Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.
Initially pleading “not guilty,” Omoseyin was granted bail on February 15, 2023. However, at the recent hearing at the court, she changed her plea to “guilty” in light of the overwhelming evidence presented by the EFCC. The prosecution counsel, Z.B. Atiku, called on Abubakar Mohammed Marafa, an EFCC operative, to review the case’s facts.
Marafa detailed that Omoseyin was arrested by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on February 1, 2023, for further investigation by the EFCC. The actress, in her statement, admitted to spraying Naira notes during a friend’s wedding on January 28, 2023.
Subsequent investigations included the retrieval of videos from her phone, collaboration with the event center management, and the gathering of video footage from the occasion.
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At the court, Justice Aneke admitted various pieces of evidence, including the letter from ICPC, the defendant’s extra-judicial statement, forensic phone report, videos, and statements from the event center.
Convinced by the evidence, he convicted and sentenced Omoseyin to six months imprisonment effective from Thursday, with an alternative of a N300,000 fine to be paid into the consolidated revenue account of the federation.
During the sentencing, Omoseyin’s defense counsel, Afuye Adegbola, appealed for leniency, emphasizing her status as a first-time offender, mother of one, and her expression of remorse. The defense further sought a non-custodial sentence.
Omoseyin’s arrest had stemmed from a viral video showing her spraying and stepping on newly redesigned Naira notes at a party. She claimed to have received the money from fans at the event, a statement contradicted by the anti-graft agency.
Notably, the ICPC recovered a Range Rover car from her upon her arrest.
