CITIZENS COMPASS– THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arrested a woman, Omoseyin Oluwadarasimi Esther, with the Twitter handle, @SimisolaofLala, for offering new naira notes for sale on her social media handle.
She was arrested on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 after diligence investigation.
ICPC disclosed this in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua in Abuja on Wednesday night.
He said the arrest was as a result of intelligence received which led the ICPC operatives to seek out and promptly arrest the suspect.
“Omoseyin Oluwadarasimi Esther, a social media “serial entrepreneur” who deals in skincare, sales of fuel, facilitation of foreign travels through visa acquisitions, and other businesses, seized the opportunity of the scarcity of the new naira notes to openly market the new notes. It is believed she is in collusion with key elements in the financial services sector diverting the newly released notes away from banking halls and payment channels into a “ black market”
“She is currently in ICPC detention and is helping the Commission with its findings on the criminal trading of the naira and the attendant scarcity and negative economic outcomes being caused by the action.
The action is in furtherance of the collaboration between CBN ICPC and EFCC in implementing the new cashless policy and naira redesign.
Meanwhile, traders in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, have lamented the sudden introduction of a 10% charge per transaction among Point of Sales (POS) operators in the city.
Recall that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had introduced the newly redesigned N200, N500 and N1000 denominations across the country.
The apex bank had also directed commercial banks to fill their Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) with the newly redesigned naira notes.
However, compliance is yet to be achieved as business owners and residents, lament the scarcity.
The apex bank through its Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, stated that all banks are to accept the deposit of old Naira notes without charge and load ATMs with the redesigned banknotes.
The CBN also extended the deadline for the exchange of the old banknotes for the newly redesigned ones to 10th February.
Citizens Compass reports that the Department Of State Services (DSS) has arrested some members of organised syndicates involved in the sale of the newly redesigned naira notes.
Peter Afunanya, the DSS Spokesperson,, said in a statement on Monday that syndicates connived with some commercial bank officials and were arrested during the secret police’s operation across the country.
“The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby informs the public that it has intercepted some members of organised syndicates involve /d in the sale of the newly redesigned naira notes,” the statement reads.
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In the course of its operations, in this regard in parts of the country, it was also established that some Commercial Bank officials are aiding the economic malfeasance.
“Consequently, the Service warns the currency racketeers to desist from this ignoble act. Appropriate regulatory authorities are, in this same vein, urged to step up monitoring and supervisory activities to expeditiously address emerging trends.
“It should be noted that the Service has ordered its Commands and Formations to further ensure that all persons and groups engaged in the illegal sale of the notes are identified. Therefore, anyone with useful information relating to this is encouraged to pass the same to the relevant authorities.”
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has finally extended the deadline for the swap of old naira notes at commercial banks by 10 days.
The Apex body also said the old notes will still be a legal tender after the deadline.
