EFCC Arraigns Two Bankers for Selling New Naira Notes

By Frank Musa

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two bank staff, Ekpe Anayaoha Okoronkwo (M), and Onyinye Umeonuoha (F), for allegedly selling newly minted Naira notes worth N500,000.

The arraignment took place on December 12, 2024, before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu State.

According to the Commission's Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Dele Oyewale, the duo was arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on currency racketeering. The charge reads: "That you, Ekpe Anayaoha Okoronkwo and Umeonuoha Onyinye, sometime in October 2024 at Enugu, Enugu State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, did sell a total sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000.00) mints in Two Hundred Naira Notes (N200) denominations, issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria to one Husseini Ibrahim and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007 and punishable under Section 21 of the same Act."

Consequently, Okoronkwo pleaded guilty to the charge, while Umeonuoha pleaded not guilty.

Counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Ajobiewe prayed the court for a short date to review the facts of the case regarding Okoronkwo. For Umeonuoha, Ajobiewe requested a trial date to enable the prosecution to prove its case. The Counsel to Umeonuoha, Mr. C. N. Agama prayed the court to remand his client at the EFCC custody pending the hearing of the bail application.

Justice Umar adjourned the matter to January 15, 2025, for the hearing of Umeonuoha's bail application and the conviction and sentencing of Okoronkwo. The defendants were remanded at the Enugu State Correctional facility.

It's noteworthy that the EFCC arrested the defendants on November 15, 2024 at their workplace located at 18 Okpara Avenue, Enugu, in Enugu State, following actionable intelligence linking them to the sale of Naira mints in Enugu State metropolis.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the defendants allegedly sold a total sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000.00) mints in Two Hundred Naira Notes (N200) denominations to one Husseini Ibrahim.

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Chelsea Winger, Mudryk Suspended Over Positive Drug Test

By Rufus Okoro

The Winger of the Chelsea Football Club (FC), Mykhailo Mudryk has been henceforth provisionally suspended from all football activities, having tested positive over drug tests.

The Ukraine international has not featured for the Blues since November 28, 2024, when he scored in a Europa Conference League win over Heidenheim. His prolonged absence had initially been attributed to illness, but was eventually revealed that he failed a doping test and is unavailable to the Head Coach, Enzo Maresca.

According to The Athletic, Mudryk tested positive for Meldonium, a medication typically used to treat heart conditions such as angina, after the November international break. Meldonium can reportedly assist with endurance and recovery for athletes.

A statement on the Blues’ official website reads: “Chelsea Football Club can confirm the Football Association recently contacted our player Mykhailo Mudryk concerning an adverse finding in a routine urine test.

“Both the Club and Mykhailo fully support The FA’s testing programme and all our players, including Mykhailo, are regularly tested. Mykhailo has confirmed categorically that he has never knowingly used any banned substances. Both Mykhailo and the Club will now work with the relevant authorities to establish what has caused the adverse finding.”

Mudryk has responded to the news by posting on social media, “I can confirm that I have been notified that a sample I provided to The FA contained a banned substance. “This has come as a complete shock as I have never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules, and am working closely with my team to investigate how this could have happened. I know that I have not done anything wrong and remain hopeful that I will be back on the pitch soon. I cannot say any more now due to the confidentiality of the process, but I will as soon as I can.”

Mudryk joined Chelsea for £89 million ($113m) in January 2023, signing an eight-year contract, and has thus far taken in 73 appearances for the club, scoring a total of 10 goals. He maintains that his personal routine has not changed since passing a banned substance test in August.

However, FA regulations dictate that a player could be "provisionally suspended" after posting a positive test, as they are given an opportunity to explain themselves. Mudryk is now waiting on the results of a ‘B’ sample as he continues to cooperate fully with all of the relevant parties involved in the case.

FN News promises to keep you updated on the situation.