Court Remands 3 For Allegedly Producing, Selling Fake $20,000

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Wednesday remanded three men in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pending their arraignment for allegedly producing and selling fake dollars.

The 1st to 3rd defendants, according to the charge marked FHC/L/79C/2024, are Benjamin Opara, Iliyasu Garba and Joseph Ude.

Justice Kehinde Ogundare made the order following Opara’s inability to be represented by a lawyer.

When the case was called, EFCC’s counsel Temitope Banjo informed the court of the five-count charge pressed against the defendants.

He prayed the court to read the charge to the defendants so that they can take their plea.

But Abdulmalik Ibrahim, counsel to the second defendant Garba, informed the court that first defendants’ counsel was not in court, which meant that the arraignment could not go on.

The lawyer prayed that the court to allow the defendant to continue on the administrative bail earlier granted them by the EFCC.

But after hearing both parties, Justice Ogundare held that since the defendants’ arraignment was stalled by the defence, they should be remanded in the EFCC’s custody pending arraignment.

The case was adjourned till March 6, 2024 for arraignment

Part of the counts read: “That you, BENJAMIN OPARA on or about the 10th November, 2023 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without lawful authority had in your possession machinery, utensil and material used for the forgery of counterfeit currency, to wit, Dollars, contrary to and punishable under Section 2 of Counterfeit Currency (Special provisions) Act Cap. C35, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

COUNT THREE

That you, BENJAMIN OPARA on or about the 10th November, 2023 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court falsely made counterfeit currency, to wit, $20,000 denomination numbered MK10441029B contrary to and punishable under Section 1(3) of Counterfeit Currency (Special provisions) Act Cap. C35, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

“That you, BENJAMIN OPARA, ILIYASU GARBA and JOSEPH UDE on or about the 10th of November 2023 in Lagos sold counterfeit currency, to wit, the sum of $10,000 denomination numbered MK10441042B, to one OBA OGOCHUKWU (AT LARGE), knowing same to be counterfeit currency contrary to and punishable under Section 4(1) of Counterfeit Currency (Special provisions) Act Cap. C35, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.