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EFCC Arraigns Two Zenith Bank Staff in Enugu for Selling N500,000 New Naira Notes.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two Zenith Bank employees, Ekpe Anayaoha Okoronkwo and Umeonuoha Onyinye, over allegations of currency racketeering involving newly-minted N500,000.
The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the EFCC presented the suspects before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court in Enugu State on Thursday, December 12, 2024. The charge accused the duo of selling N500,000 in N200 denominations to one Husseini Ibrahim, a violation of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.
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The charge reads:
“That you, Ekpe Anayaoha Okoronkwo and Umeonuoha Onyinye, sometime in October 2024 at Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, did sell a total sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000.00) mints in Two Hundred Naira Notes (N200) denominations, issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria to one Husseini Ibrahim 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.”
Okoronkwo pleaded guilty, while Onyinye pleaded not guilty.
Counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Ajobiewe requested a short date to review the facts regarding Okoronkwo and a trial date for Onyinye. In response, Onyinye’s counsel, C. N. Agama, requested that she be remanded in EFCC custody pending a bail hearing.
Justice Umar adjourned the case to January 15, 2025, for Onyinye’s bail hearing and Okoronkwo’s sentencing. Both defendants were remanded in the Enugu State Correctional Facility.
The suspects were arrested on November 15, 2024, at their workplace on Okpara Avenue, Enugu, following intelligence reports linking them to currency racketeering. Investigations revealed that the duo sold N500,000 in N200 denominations to Ibrahim.
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This case highlights the EFCC’s ongoing efforts to curb financial crimes, including the illicit trade of the naira.
