Actress Jailed Six Months for Spraying and Stepping On Naira Notes at Wedding Party in Lagos
An actress, Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, has been sentenced by a Federal High Court in Lagos to six months imprisonment for spraying and stepping on naira notes at a wedding party.
Prosecutor had told the court that the accused at the event held at Monarch Event Centre, Lekki in January 2023, that the accused while dancing had sprayed new N100 and N200 notes and stepped on them.
She was first arraigned on February 13, 2023, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a two-count charge, but was granted bail by the court, after pleading not guilty.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Thursday, the actress changed her not-guilty plea to guilty.
Justice Chukwujeku Aneke sentenced her to a six-month jail term with an option of a fine of N300,000.
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The Nollywood star was filmed with 100,000 naira ($83; £66) worth of notes while dancing at a friend’s wedding in Lekki, Lagos a year ago, the country’s anti-fraud agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said.
In her statement to the commission, Omoseyin said she received the new naira notes from her fans at the party and that she did not know the people who gave her the money.
When she appeared in court on Thursday, Omoseyin pleaded guilty following overwhelming evidence against her, the EFCC said in a statement posted on X.
Through her lawyer, the actress pleaded for leniency, saying she was a first-time offender and a mother of one.
Omoseyin, who is popularly known as Simi Gold, further asked for a non-custodial sentence, according to EFCC.
It is not clear if the actress will appeal against the court ruling.
The incident happened at a time when there was a severe scarcity of naira cash following the controversial withdrawal of old 200, 500, and 1,000 notes from circulation.
Last November, the country’s central bank said the old banknotes would remain legal tender, ending months of uncertainty.
