An actress, Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, has been sentenced to six months in prison by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos. The conviction comes after she pleaded guilty to charges of spraying and stepping on new Naira notes during a social event at Monarch Event Centre, Lekki, Lagos.
Omoseyin was initially arraigned on February 13, 2023, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on two charges but was granted bail on February 15, 2023. The charges included tampering with N100,000 issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria, a violation of the Central Bank Act, 2007.
During the hearing, Omoseyin changed her plea from “not guilty” to “guilty,” prompted by compelling evidence against her. The prosecution presented facts, including the defendant’s statement, videos of the incident on her phone, and footage from the event center.
The defense sought leniency, highlighting Omoseyin’s status as a first-time offender, a mother of one, and her remorsefulness. In delivering the judgment, Justice Aneke sentenced her to six months in prison, effective immediately, with an option to pay a fine of N300,000.
Omoseyin’s arrest by ICPC operatives in Ikoyi followed the online circulation of a viral video showing her mishandling the redesigned Naira notes at a party. She claimed to have received the money from unidentified fans and emphasized her lack of knowledge about the givers. Additionally, a Range Rover was recovered from her at the time of arrest.
