2 men sentenced to 49 years in prison for possession of counterfeit US dollars
A Federal High Court in Kano has sentenced two men, Abubakar Husseini and Sahabi Adamu, to 49 years imprisonment for possession of counterfeit US dollar bills.
Justice M.S. Shuabu handed down the sentence after the defendants pleaded guilty to a seven-count charge brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The charges involved the possession of a total of 4,997 pieces of forged $100 notes, in violation of sections 5(1) and 6(2) of the Counterfeit Currency (Special Provisions) Act, Laws of the Federation 2010.
The EFCC told the court that the convicts were apprehended on May 30 while on their way to Gwaram, Jigawa State, to visit a marabout who had allegedly promised to convert the fake dollars into real currency. The marabout could not be located, and a third suspect remains at large.
During proceedings, EFCC counsel Mustapha Maiwada informed the court that the defendants had entered a plea bargain agreement under Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015. Defense counsel MD Isa appealed to the court to be lenient in sentencing.
Justice Shuabu emphasized the importance of tracing the source of counterfeit currency, warning that if such money infiltrates the financial system, especially through Bureau De Change operators, it could have international consequences for unsuspecting individuals and damage the country’s reputation. He urged law enforcement to remain vigilant to prevent systemic collapse.
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Both men were sentenced to seven years imprisonment on each of the seven counts, with the sentences to run concurrently. The court also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the counterfeit currency, as stipulated in the plea bargain agreement.
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