A Nigerian actress, Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, who the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos on February 13 for allegedly spraying new naira notes at a party, has been granted bail in the sum of N5 million, with one surety in like sum.
The court ordered that the surety must be a public servant in the service of the Federation or the Lagos State Government not below the rank of Grade Level 12, or a holder of a genuine statutory certificate of occupancy of a developed landed property within the Lagos State municipality.
Omoseyin, the court directed, should be remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre, Lagos, pending the perfection of the bail terms.
The charge against the actress, which is punishable under section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007, accused her of tampering with the sum of N100,000 issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) while dancing at a social occasion held on January 28, 2023 at Monarch Event Centre, Lekki.
Operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Fraud Related Offences Commission (ICPC) arrested the 31-year-old actress on February 1 and handed her over to the EFCC for investigation.
During the bail application hearing on Monday, February 13, the EFCC prosecutor, Sulaiman Sulaiman, submitted that bail was at the discretion of the court and insisted that in the event bail was granted, the conditions of the bail term should be such that they would enable the defendant to be present during the trial.
Omoseyin’s lawyer, Adenike Goncalves, had asked the court to grant her client bail pending the case’s hearing and determination and remand her client in EFCC custody pending the perfection of the bail terms, if granted by the court.
The judge then fixed February 15 for the ruling on the bail application and ordered that the defendant, who pleaded not guilty, be remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional facility.
The actress was seen in a viral video spraying and stepping on the newly redesigned naira notes at the party, while flaunting wads of the new naira notes.
The case had sparked a national debate about the disrespect of the country’s currency and the need to hold individuals accountable for their actions.
The matter has been adjourned till April 3 for trial.
Omoseyin’s case highlights the need for Nigerians to be cautious in using the country’s currency.
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