The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Friday, secured the conviction and sentencing of Bose Lateef before Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, for an offence bordering on money racketeering.
She was arraigned by the EFCC on a one- count charge of Naira Racketeering under Section 21(4) of the CBN Act.
The count reads: “That you, BOSE LATEEF on or about the 16 day of February, 2024 al Eko Club, Surulere, in Lages within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court hawked the sum of N269,000.00 (Two Hundred and Sixty Nine Thousand Naira), in N500 (Five Hundred Naira) denominations, issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary lo 21(4) and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act. 2007.”
When the charge was read to Bose, she pleaded “guilty” to the charge preferred against her.
Following her guilty plea, the prosecuting EFCC lawyer, A.S. Wara called on Olagunjo Abdulmalik, an operative of the EFCC, to review the facts of the case.
Abdulmalik told the court that Bose was arrested on February 15, 2024 while hawking Naira notes at Eko Club, Surulere, Lagos, following credible intelligence received by the Commission.
Speaking further, Abdulmalik said the sum of N507,500 (Five Hundred and Seven Thousand, Five hundred Naira) was recovered from her at the point of arrest.
He said, “Upon her arrest by operatives, she was duly cautioned and the defendant volunteered her statement, in which she confessed that she was into money racketeering and hawking of Naira notes.”
Wara, thereafter, sought to tender, in evidence, the defendant’s statements, and the N507,500( Five Hundred and Seven Thousand, Five hundred Naira) recovered.
Justice Dipeolu admitted and marked them as exhibits against her while the judge declared her guilty as charged.
But the defence lawyer, Kolapo Gbadamosi, urged the court to tender justice with mercy.
He said, “The money found in her possession was a loan she took from a cooperative society.”
Gbadamosi also prayed the court to “please give her the money so she can return to the owner and forgive her as she is a first-time offender and she is sorry for her actions”.
Justice Dipeolu consequently sentenced Bose Lateef to one month imprisonment to commence from the day of her arrest by the EFCC.
The judge also ordered that the sum of N507,500 cash should be returned to her.
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