Dare Babalola
A Federal High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu State, has handed down a one-year prison sentence to Iziga Jude Ikechukwu, popularly known as “Easy-money,” for defacing and mishandling Naira notes during his birthday celebration.
The judgment was delivered by Justice F. O. Giwa-Ogunbanjo after Ikechukwu was prosecuted by the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a post shared on the agency’s X account on Tuesday, Ikechukwu had been arraigned on March 26, 2026, on a single charge relating to the mutilation of Naira notes amounting to N81,700.
The charge against him stated, “That you, Iziga Jude Ikechukwu on 22nd February 2026, at Embassy Hotel Enugu Ezike, Enugu State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while celebrating your birthday, you danced and matched on the sum of Eighty-one thousand, Seven hundred Naira (N81, 700. 00) notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria. You thereby committed an offence to wit: mutilation, contrary to and punishable under Section 21 (1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007”.
Ikechukwu admitted guilt when the charge was read to him. Following his plea, Justice Giwa-Ogunbanjo sentenced him to one year imprisonment effective from the date of his arraignment, with an option of a N300,000 fine.
The court further directed that the N81,700 recovered from him be forfeited to the Federal Government through the EFCC.
The 24-year-old, identified as a palm kernel trader, was apprehended on February 28, 2026, at his residence near the timber market in Enugu-Ezike.
His arrest followed actionable intelligence linked to a viral social media video showing him recording himself while mishandling Naira notes in a hotel room during his birthday celebration.
After investigations, he was formally charged to court, where he was subsequently convicted.
