A Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, has convicted and sentenced 12 persons for abusing the naira by spraying the currency at a party, while also ordering the forfeiture of seven luxury vehicles recovered from convicted internet fraudsters to the Federal Government.

A statement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, said the convictions were secured by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa.

The convicts are Abimbola Dolapo, Ufuoma Okotie, Samuel Kingsley, Rasaki Ayomide, Ekpmamuku Oghenekewvwe, Abraham Eriata, Favour Onowighose, Karaki Emmanuel Ejioghene, Simeon Sabastine, Valentine Chikeze, Omoyibo Destiny Prince and Akenuwa Clinton Osamudiamen.

According to the EFCC, the defendants were prosecuted for tampering with the naira by spraying the currency while dancing at a party, an offence contrary to the provisions of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.

One of the charges, filed against Akenuwa Clinton Osamudiamen, read:
“That you Akenuwa Clinton Osamudiamen (m) on or about January 2025 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst dancing at a birthday party tampered with the sum of N20,000,00 (twenty thousand Naira) in N200 (two hundred naira) denomination issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 2(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act,2007 and punishable under Section 21(1) of the same Act.”

The defendants pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them.

Following their guilty pleas, prosecution counsel, Francis Jirbo, urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

Counsel to the defendants, however, pleaded for leniency, telling the court that the convicts were remorseful and asking that justice be tempered with mercy.

In his judgment, Justice Nganjiwa sentenced Abimbola Dolapo, Ufuoma Okotie, Samuel Kingsley, Rasaki Ayomide, Ekpmamuku Oghenekewvwe, Abraham Eriata, Favour Onowighose, Karaki Emmanuel Ejioghene, Simeon Sabastine, Valentine Chikeze and Omoyibo Destiny Prince to six months imprisonment or an option of a N150,000 fine each.

Akenuwa Clinton Osamudiamen was sentenced to six months imprisonment or an option of a N200,000 fine.

The court also noted that all 12 convicts signed written undertakings to be of good conduct going forward.

In a related development, Justice Nganjiwa on Friday, July 17, 2026, ordered the forfeiture of seven luxury vehicles to the Federal Government.

The EFCC said the vehicles were recovered as proceeds of crime from convicted internet fraudsters.

The forfeited vehicles include a Mercedes Benz GLK with registration number LSD 412 KJ, a Lexus RX 330 with registration number WWR 640 NG, a Mercedes Benz ML with registration number TAB 211 DZ, a Lexus ES 350 with registration number KUJ 125 DB, a Mercedes Benz GLK with registration number BDG 668 JT, a Mercedes Benz GLC with registration number KSF 8867 KM, and another Mercedes Benz GLK with registration number KSF 871 KM.

A boat accident in the Republic of Cameroon has claimed at least 20 lives, including 18 Nigerians travelling to a community in Adamawa State.

The boat, said to have been travelling from Garoua in Cameroon to Yola in Nigeria, capsized after encountering a violent storm late Monday night, DAILY POST learnt on Tuesday evening.

Witnesses said the boat, which was carrying more than 50 passengers, was also heavily loaded with iron rods and other building materials meant for Dasin, a village in Fufore Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

They recounted that the boat was caught in a severe storm around midnight, causing it to overturn. Initial estimates indicated that about 30 people might have died, but local authorities have so far confirmed that about 20 victims have been killed.

Among the deceased, the 18 identified as Nigerians have been buried in Wuro Bokki community in Fufore LGA, according to reliable sources, while search and rescue operations continue for passengers who are yet to be accounted for.

Divers from both Cameroon and Nigeria are said to be involved in the search, while many survivors are receiving treatment at hospitals in border communities.

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested two suspected cattle rustlers and recovered three stolen bulls valued at N1.73 million in Alkaleri Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects, identified as 40-year-old Umaru Adamu, alias Balawo, and 30-year-old Haruna Usman, alias Dotti, both from Dawo Village in Kwami Local Government Area of Gombe State, were arrested on July 19, 2026.

According to a statement by the command’s spokesperson, SP Nafiu Habib, the suspects were arrested at about 2 pm by operatives of the Alkaleri Police Division following credible intelligence.

The police said the three bulls recovered from the suspects were suspected to have been stolen.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects obtained the cattle from two suspects, now at large and of the same address, who are believed to be habitual rustlers terrorising communities along the Gombe and Bauchi states axis,” the statement said.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has directed intensified efforts to track down and arrest the fleeing accomplices.

The two suspects remain in police custody as investigations continue, while the recovered cattle have been secured as exhibits.

The command urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to the police to support efforts to combat cattle rustling and other crimes in the state.