Adeyinka Bilikis Gbadamosi has been convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos. Gbadamosi was arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a one-count charge of currency racketeering.
Gbadamosi pleaded guilty to the charge, which stated that she engaged in hawking a total sum of N897,900 (approximately $2,190) in Nigerian currency notes, consisting of N200 and N500 denominations. The currency had serial numbers issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
During the trial, Olagunju Abdul Malik, an EFCC operative, testified that Gbadamosi was arrested on April 27, 2024, while selling Naira notes at an event center in Ikeja, Lagos. The EFCC had received credible intelligence leading to her arrest. At the time of her arrest, N897,900 was recovered from her.
Gbadamosi confessed in her statement to being involved in currency racketeering and the hawking of Naira notes. The court admitted her extrajudicial statements and the recovered money as exhibits.
In the sentencing, Justice Aneke imposed a six-month prison term on Gbadamosi, with the option of a fine of N50,000 (approximately $122). Additionally, the N897,900 recovered from her was ordered to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The conviction and sentencing of Gbadamosi highlight the seriousness with which currency racketeering is treated in Nigeria. The EFCC’s efforts to combat financial crimes and preserve the integrity of the Nigerian currency are evident in this case.
