Justice M.S. Shuabu of the Federal High Court Kano has convicted and sentenced Abubakar Husseini and Sahabi Adamu to 49 years imprisonment for being in possession of a total of 4997 pieces of 100 US dollar bills contrary to section 5 (1) and 6 (2) of counterfeit currency special provisions act Laws of the Federation 2010.
The duo pleaded guilty to the 7 count charge of being in possession of 1204 pieces of 100 US dollar bills, and another 882 pieces of the same 100 dollar bill. Other bundles include 847 pieces, 823 pieces, 710 and 531 pieces of counterfeit currency.
The convicts were arrested on May 30 on their way to Gwaram in Jigawa State to see a ‘marabout’ who would turn the fake monies into genuine currency. While the ‘marabout’ could not be traced, a third suspect was on the run.
Counsel for the EFCC, Mustapha Maiwada, told the court that the defendants have entered into a plea bargain agreement pursuant to section 270 of the Administration of criminal Justice Act ACJA 2015.
Defense counsel, MD Isa, asked the court to exercise its discretion in sentencing the defendants.
The trial judge held that the essence of investigation in the instant case was to get the source of the fake currency, stating that if the fake money finds its way to the Bureau De change, anyone who takes them abroad and is caught would end up in jail.
He said law enforcement agencies must always do the right thing to save the country from collapse.
The judge sentenced the two defendants to 7 years imprisonment for each of the seven count charges based on their pleas without the option of fine. He however ordered that the sentences should run concurrently.
The judge also ordered that the counterfeit monies be forfeited and destroyed as contained in the plea bargain agreement.
