The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, May 8, 2025, secured the conviction and sentence of the duo of Babatunde Peter Olaitan and Tobilola Olamide to six months imprisonment each for mutilation of the Naira notes.

They were jailed by Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The convicts were arraigned on a separate one-count charge of tampering with the Naira notes and spraying, to which they each pleaded “guilty”.

The charge against Olaitan reads: “That you, BABATUNDE PETER OLAITAN, on 8th April 2025, at 23, Macdonald Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst dancing during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N200 (Two Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying it, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.”

The charge against Olamide reads:”That you, TOBILOLA OLAMIDE A.K.A TobiNation, on 8th April 2025, at 23 Macdonald Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst dancing during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N200 (Two Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying it, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.”

In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, C.C. Okezie and H.U.KofarNaisa, respectively, reviewed the facts of the cases through Ibrahim Bukar, an investigative officer with the EFCC.

In his evidence, Bukar specifically told the court that the Commission, on April 10, 2025, generated an intelligence-driven investigation on TikTok, where Olaitan, also known as TDollar, was seen spraying Naira notes.

He also told the court that “Upon the approval of the intelligence by the Zonal Director, a letter of investigation was sent to the defendant, requesting him to make a statement regarding the video.

“The defendant reported to the Special Operations Team, SOT, on May 5, 2025 and his statement was recorded under caution.

“He stated that he went to a night club on April 8, 2025 and met some of his fans sharing money.

“ He also said that a fan, in the process, gifted him a bundle of N200 notes, which he sprayed on some of his other fans.

“He was shown a video of him spraying the money and he made a statement regarding it.”

Consequently, the defendants’ extrajudicial statements and video recordings were rendered and admitted in evidence by the court.

Okozie and KofarNaisa, therefore, respectively prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.

Justice Owoeye convicted and sentenced both Olaitan and Olamide to six months imprisonment each, with an option of fine in the sum of N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira.

The convicts’ road to the Correctional Centre started when they were arrested by operatives of the EFCC for Naira abuse. They were charged to court and convicted.

The Supreme Court has ordered the immediate remand of Lagos-based businessman and socialite, Fred Ajudua, in connection with a $1.43 million fraud case dating back over three decades.

In a unanimous ruling delivered on Friday, the apex court overturned the decision of the Court of Appeal, which had earlier granted Ajudua bail.

The court held that the appellate court erred in its judgment and directed that Ajudua be returned to correctional custody without delay.

It was learned that Ajudua is now in hiding following the court’s decision.

“Ajudua escaped after the Supreme Court ordered that he should be returned to prison,”, a source disclosed and its currently unclear if he is still in Nigeria.

The case, which has spanned more than 30 years, stems from allegations that Ajudua defrauded a German company of $1.43 million through an advance fee fraud scheme—commonly referred to as a “419” scam in Nigeria.

A letter dated August 26, 1993, from the Embassy of the State of Palestine accused Ajudua of obtaining the funds under false pretence from one Ziad Abu Zalaf, a Palestinian businessman based in Germany. The funds were allegedly siphoned under the pretext of business transactions with Nigerian government agencies.

It was gathered that Ajudua and his accomplice, Mr. Joseph Ochunor, fraudulently collected sums of $268,000 and $225,000 from Zalaf on April 2 and May 12, 1993, respectively. They forged official documents, including receipts from the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, to make the transactions appear legitimate.

Following an extensive investigation, a 12-count charge was filed against Ajudua before the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja. Initially arraigned before Justice Josephine Oyefeso, the case was later reassigned to Justice Mojisola Dada following a refiling of charges.

Ajudua’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), later approached the Court of Appeal, where a panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba granted bail on the grounds of constitutional rights and allowed the businessman to continue under his existing bail terms.

However, In its decision on appeal number SC/CR/51/2019, the Supreme Court, through Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme, ruled that the Court of Appeal acted outside its jurisdiction by granting bail after striking out Ajudua’s brief of argument for incompetence. The apex court held that any judgment or relief stemming from such a defective brief was legally void.

The Supreme Court further ordered that trial resume before Justice Dada of the Lagos State High Court without further delay.

The National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), an affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has shut down operations at MDV Sacks Ltd, a subsidiary of the Bhojsons Group, over alleged exploitation, inhumane treatment, and racial discrimination against over 300 Nigerian workers.

The company, located within the Lafarge Cement premises in Ewekoro, Ogun State, is accused of compelling its factory workers to pay N18,000 for protective boots while refusing to provide basic employment rights, including allowances, annual leave, and formal employment letters.

The union also alleged that MDV Sacks Ltd actively suppresses workers’ rights to unionize, a clear violation of Nigeria’s labour laws.

On Monday, members of the Textile Union, backed by other NLC-affiliated unions, stormed the factory in a protest that disrupted activities at the facility. The demonstrators, chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards with messages like “Injury to one is injury to all” and “MDV Lafarge management, stop harassment and intimidation of workers”, called on all employees to vacate the premises until their grievances are addressed.

While the majority of workers complied and walked out in support of the union, a handful reportedly remained on duty.

Deputy General Secretary of NUTGTWN, Comrade Emeka Nkwoala, who addressed journalists during the protest, expressed deep concern over the company’s failure to honour commitments reached during a mediation meeting held on May 7, 2025.

“At the meeting, it was agreed that union activities would be allowed to commence without obstruction and that workers would be given formal employment letters,” Nkwoala said.

“Unfortunately, the management of MDV Sacks Ltd has gone back on its word. Some of our members have been unjustly laid off, while others are subjected to degrading and exploitative working conditions. There are clear rules of engagement under Nigerian law, and we will not allow modern-day slavery to persist under any guise.”

Nkwoala further accused the company of fostering a culture of racial discrimination, alleging that Nigerian workers are treated unfairly in comparison to their expatriate counterparts.

He described the demonstration as peaceful and orderly, adding that the Ogun State Ministry of Labour has now stepped in to mediate. According to him, the Ministry has directed that the status quo be maintained, with sacked workers recalled and all outstanding entitlements paid.

The union has vowed to continue its advocacy until the affected workers receive justice and the company is held accountable for its actions.