Nigerian actress, Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, popularly known as Simi Gold, has been sentenced to six months in prison following her conviction for misconduct during a social event in Lagos.
The verdict was delivered by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on February 1, 2024, finding the actress guilty of violating the Central Bank Act.
The charges against Simi Gold were filed by the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 13, 2023.
She faced two counts related to tampering with the sum of N100,000.00 during a social gathering held at the Monarch Event Centre in Lekki, Lagos.
The actress initially pleading “not guilty” to the charges, and was granted bail on February 15, 2023.
However, the court ruled that her actions violated Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007, which prohibits the defacement or tampering of Nigerian currency.
One of the court charges read: “That you, Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, on the 28th day of January 2023, at Monarch Event Centre, Lekki, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst dancing during a social occasion tampered with the sum of N100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same in the said occasion and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.”
During the resumed hearing on Thursday, February 1, 2024, Simi Gold changed her plea to “guilty” in light of the compelling evidence against her.
The prosecution counsel, Z.B. Atiku, called Abubakar Mohammed Marafa, an operative of the EFCC, to present the facts of the case.
Marafa stated that Omoseyin was arrested by officers of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on February 1, 2023.
Omoseyin’s statement indicated that she attended a friend’s wedding on January 28, 2023, during which she sprayed N200 and N100 Naira notes.
Further investigations included the retrieval of videos on her phone showing the money spray and collaboration with the event center management, who provided video footage of the incident.
The prosecution applied to tender evidence from the ICPC, including Omoseyin’s statement, forensic reports of her phone, video recordings, and statements from the event center’s representatives.
Justice Aneke admitted these as exhibits and convicted Omoseyin as charged.
During the sentencing, Omoseyin’s defense counsel, Afuye Adegbola, pleaded for leniency, highlighting that she was a first-time offender, a mother, and expressed remorse.
Justice Aneke sentenced Simi Gold to six months’ imprisonment effective immediately, with an alternative option of a N300,000 fine to be paid into the consolidated revenue account of the federation.
Simi Gold was arrested by ICPC operatives along Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, following the circulation of a video online showing her spraying and stepping on newly redesigned Naira notes at a party.
In her statement to the Commission, the actress claimed to have received the new Naira notes from fans at the party and denied knowing the people who gave her the money.
At the time of her arrest, a Range Rover was among the items recovered from her possession.
KanyiDaily recalls that Simi Gold, whose real name is Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, was handed over to the EFCC following her arrest.
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