The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned one Nwachukwu Ifeanyi, before a Federal High Court sitting in Enugu State on a two-count charge of currency racketeering and operating a bureau de change business without an appropriate licence.
Trial judge in the matter is Justice Mohammed Umar.
One of the counts read: “That you, Nwachukwu Ifeanyi, sometime in February 2024, at Douglas Road, Owerri, imo State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, hawked the total sum of N500, 000. mints in N500 denominations, issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21 (4) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007 and punishable under Section 21 (1) of the same Act.”
He pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.
Following his plea, Christiana Igwe, counsel to the EFCC prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded at Enugu prison.
However, defence counsel, U. Ibekwe informed the court about a pending bail application before it.
He attempted to move the said application but was vehemently opposed by Igwe on the grounds that “the prosecution was just served this morning and we need time to respond my Lord. It is not ripe for hearing my Lord.”
After listening to both sides, Justice Umar adjourned the matter to June 4, 2024, for hearing of bail application while the defendant was remanded at Enugu prison.
Ifeanyi was arrested on February 9, 2024 by members of the Special Task Force of the Commission following credible intelligence linking him to currency racketeering.
Investigations revealed that Ifeanyi used his shop, located at 98 Douglas Road, Owerri, Imo State to hawk new Naira notes.
He was arrested at his shop with N500,000 mints in N500 denomination.
