Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa of the Federal High Court Kano on Tuesday, 27 February 2024, convicted and sentenced two persons to one year imprisonment each for operating as bureau de change operators without an appropriate licence.
The convicts: Munkaila Sani and Mohammed Sani were jailed after pleading guilty to one-count separate charge bordering on engaging in financial operations of bureau de change without a requisite licence, upon their arraignment by the Kano Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The lone-count charge reads, “That you Munkaila Sani sometime in February, 2024 in Kano within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did engage in a financial operation of bureau de change without a valid licence and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 57 (5) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, 2020 and punishable under Section 57 (5) (B) of the same act.’’
Upon arraignment, the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges when they were read to them. Based on their pleas, prosecution counsel, Aisha Tahar Habib, prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
READ ALSO: Naira Fall: EFCC raids bureau de change operators’ neighbourhood in Abuja
Counsel to the defendants, Abdulrahman Isah, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as the suspect are elderly and have become remorseful for their actions.
Consequently, Justice Yunusa convicted and sentenced the defendants to one year imprisonment each.
The convicts’ began their journey to the Correctional Centre when they were arrested by operatives of the Commission around Wapa BDC market and Grand Central Hotel, Kano, following reliable intelligence about their involvement in a syndicate operating bureau de change businesses without an appropriate licence .
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
February 27, 2024
Support PREMIUM TIMES’ journalism of integrity and credibility
Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.
For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.
By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.
Donate
TEXT AD: Call Willie – +2348098788999
