CURRENCY COUNTERFEITING: EFCC ARRAIGNS THREE IN OWERRI.{PHOTO}..

       The Enugu zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday 11th May, 2018 arraigned the trio of Clementina Ndukwe, Anthony Njoku and Alexander Umunna before Justice Lewis Alagoa of the Federal High Court, Owerri, Imo State on six count charge bordering on Conspiracy and Currency Counterfeiting to the tune of N1, 147, 000 (One million, One Hundred and Forty Seven Thousand Naira) contrary to section 6(2) of the Counterfeit Currency (Special Provisions) Act, Cap C35, L.F.N. 2004 and punishable under section 5(1) (c) of the same Act.
A case of conspiracy and currency counterfeiting was reported to the Commission on 12th April, 2018 by the Department of State Services, DSS Imo State command, where it was alleged that some group of persons were trading in counterfeit banknotes. The Commission swung into action and commenced investigation where it was discovered that the prime suspect, Mrs. Clementina Ndukwe who sells bread at a popular bus stop in Owerri metropolis, had a link to other suspects in Lagos where she normally buys her counterfeit notes which were regularly sent to her by a driver of one of the new generation transport companies. Further investigations also revealed that she sell her counterfeit banknotes to the 2nd and 3rd defendants at the rate of N2,500 for every N25,000 counterfeit notes, the 2nd and 3rd accuse will afterward mix the counterfeit notes with genuine banknotes and thereafter transact normal businesses with them. The sum of 1,147,000 worth of counterfeit notes was recovered in her shop alongside some papers cut to U.S dollars size which is used for production of fake dollar notes otherwise known as “Wash-Wash” in the local parlance. They pleaded not guilty to all the count charges preferred against them.In view of the accused person’s plea, the prosecuting counsel Barr. Marshal Onome Umukoro applied for a trial date while the defense counsels, Barr. N. B Nwaigwe and Barr. I.G. Nwachukwu applied for the bail of their respective clients. The prosecuting counsel however, opposed the bail applications on the ground that the application should come formally to enable him react on point of law.Justice Lewis Alagoa ruled that counsel to the defendants should apply formally to the court and their clients be remanded in EFCC custody. He thereafter, adjourned the matter to May 28, 2018 for hearing.