Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, convicted and sentenced one Uzondu Precious Chimaobi to four years imprisonment for his refusal to accept the Naira as a legal tender.

Chimaobi was arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, on February 5, 2025 on a two-count charge bordering on refusal to accept the Naira as a legal tender.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Precious Chimaobi Uzondu, on the 10th of December 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, refused to accept Naira (Nigeria legal tender) by accepting the sum of $5700 ( Five Thousand Seven Hundred USD) as a means of payment for a purchase of a cartier diamond bracelet with serial number (12345678) and you, thereby , committed an offence contrary to Section 20 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.”

He initially pleaded not guilty to the charge, leading to his full trial.

Subsequently, the prosecution presented its first witness, PW1, Owolabi Oyarekhua Jude, an operative of the EFCC.

Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, H.U. Kofarnaisa, Jude told the court that “the Commission received intelligence on the activities of a jewelry company called Unlimited Jewellers Limited, “whose owner is one Uzondu Precious Chimaobi.

“The Company, which deals in jewelry at Atlantic Mall, Chevron Drive, Lekki, Lagos intentionally tags and sells its products in Dollars as against the CBN Act, 2007 ,which stipulates Naira as the only legal tender in Nigeria.”

Continuing, he added that “ Subsequently, a covert operation was carried out , where an undercover operative of the Commission disguised as a customer to purchase a Diamond Nail bracelet that was tagged $6000 and bought it for $5700.

“The company refused to receive Naira and demanded Dollars as a means of payment. The payment was made and receipt was issued in Dollars . The owner of the company was arrested and taken to the Commission’s office.”

However, at the resumed sitting on April 14, 2025, the defendant opted to change his “not guilty” plea to “guilty.

Consequent upon his guilty plea, Kofarnaisa, prayed the court to rely on the evidence earlier given by the investigating officer, and admit the same in convicting the defendant.

Kofarnaisa, thereafter, tendered the defendant’s statement and other evidence to further prove his guilt and they were admitted by the court.

Justice Owoeye then adjourned till Tuesday, April 15, 2025 for ruling.

Delivering judgment, they found the defendant guilty and gave him an option of fine of N50,000( Fifty Thousand Naira) on count one.

The Judge sentenced him to four years imprisonment, with an option of fine in the sum of N600,000 on count two.

His Cartier Diamond wristwatch was ordered forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The convict bagged his imprisonment when he refused to accept Naira by accepting the sum of $5700 ( Five Thousand Seven Hundred USD) as a means of payment for a purchase of a cartier diamond bracelet. He was charged to court and convicted.

Senator Sulaiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila has begin consultation with his constituents to decide his fate on whether to return to the All Progressives Congress or not.

Reacting to a recent call by the APC leaders from Kano South Senatorial District, Senator Sumaila said he had embarked on rigorous consultations with constituents and other stakeholders.

“It is true the APC leaders from my district have called on me to return to APC. The leaders took the advantage of the internal crisis in my party; New Nigeria Peoples Party which factionalized the party.

“And I am sure they are targeting me because they knew my political strength and commitment in politics. So, when the call persist, i have started consulting my constituents and all relevant stakeholders.

“I am into politics because of my people and whatever situation I found myself, I will let them decide my fate. So, even this issue, I will not decide it by myself, I will rather allow them to decide.

“Whatever decision my constituents take, I will abide by it because in politics consultation and openness are critical. So, one thing I can aşure you is that I will not decode my fate alone and whatever my constituents decode, I will go by it.” He concluded.

An aide to former President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, has expressed the readiness of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to welcome Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso back into the party. Ahmad made this statement on his verified Facebook page, sparking discussions within Nigeria’s political circles.

In his post, Ahmad stated, *“We will gladly welcome Sen. Rabi’u Kwankwaso and his people into our great party, the APC.”This declaration comes amidst growing speculation about Kwankwaso’s potential return to the APC, a party he played a significant role in forming ahead of the 2015 general elections during his tenure as Governor of Kano State.

Kwankwaso, who is currently the national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has remained a prominent figure in Nigerian politics. His possible return to the APC is seen by many as a strategic move that could reshape the political landscape, particularly in Kano State, where he wields considerable influence.

Ahmad’s statement has fueled debates among political analysts and party members, with some viewing Kwankwaso’s return as a boost to the APC’s strength in the region. Others, however, question the implications of such a move for the NNPP and its supporters.

As the political climate heats up, all eyes are on Senator Kwankwaso to see whether he will heed the call and rejoin the party he once helped build.