A Federal High Court in Lagos, yesterday, sentenced a fake currency counterfeiter, James Onwuso, to seven years’ imprisonment. The convict, a resident of 29, Sosanya Street, Gbagada, Lagos, was charged before the court presided over by Justice Ibrahim Nasir Buba, by the Attorney-General of the Federation on a threecount charge bordering on false production of different denominations of the naira,
forgery of bank notes and possession of different counterfeit denominations of the naira. The prosecution, led by Mrs. Kehinde Bode- Ayeni, had informed the court that the offences were punishable under sections 1(1), 2 and 5(1) of the Counterfeit Currency (Special Provisions) Act Cap. C35 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. Bode-Ayeni also informed the court that during the arrest of the convict on November 15, 2011, he was found in possession of fake N1000, N50, and N200 notes. She also informed the court that the convict unlawfully possessed machines, utensils and materials he used in forging the Nigerian currency. The convict, who had no legal representation, was first arraigned before the court sometime in 2012.
During his trial, the prosecution had tendered an evidence of a warrant of arrest that was issued against him where he gave a confessional statement to superior officers, stating how he served in the Nigerian Army, and that upon retirement he had the printing machines, which he had been using to produce N200, N500 and N1000 notes; with the help of a supplier who brings printing papers to him. The judge said with the evidence before the court, it was not difficult for him to arrive at the verdict as the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubts and accused was therefore convicted on all the charges. Pronouncing his judgement, Justice Buba said: “In view of your plea and the facts before me, you are hereby sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment on count one and another seven years for counts one and two, to run concurrently, beginning from the time of arrest; the counterfeit notes and machines are to be forwarded to Central Bank of Nigeria for destruction.”