— EFCC, NSCDC collaboration cracks fake currency network through digital analysis
A landmark judgment in Ilorin has showcased the power of forensic investigation and inter-agency collaboration, as the Federal High Court convicted three men for currency counterfeiting after scientific analysis confirmed the Naira notes in their possession to be fake.
Presiding Judge, Justice Abimbola Awogboro, sentenced Olaitan Dina (46), an aluminium fabricator; Opeyemi Jeremiah, a bakery worker; and Adebayo Mayowa Abiola, a trader from Ekiti State, to jail terms ranging from 15 to 18 months, without the option of fine, for violating the Counterfeit Currency (Special Provisions) Act of 1983.
The convicts were arrested in July by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and later handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for detailed investigation.
EFCC investigators discovered that all the seized ₦1,000 notes bore identical serial numbers a forensic red flag. The notes were sent to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja for digital texture and serial-number analysis, confirming them as counterfeit.
Testifying before the court, EFCC detective Abdulhakeem Sani Umar said the investigation deployed advanced forensic mapping techniques that conclusively linked the fake notes to a single illegal source.
During prosecution, EFCC counsel Aliyu Adebayo presented the fake notes and the defendants’ confessional statements as exhibits, urging the court to convict them.
Justice Awogboro, in her ruling, described currency counterfeiting as “a grave assault on public trust and economic stability”, adding:
“The issue of Naira counterfeiting is a serious crime against the law and society. The court must pass a sentence that will deter others who think the currency is theirs to reproduce.”
Dina was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, while Jeremiah and Abiola each received 15 months, effective from October 15, 2025. All counterfeit notes were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government.
Security analysts hailed the EFCC–NSCDC collaboration as a model of effective law enforcement synergy, noting that forensic units are becoming increasingly crucial in tracing counterfeit money networks nationwide.
Experts warn that the case exposes the economic risks of counterfeit circulation in a cash-driven economy like Nigeria’s, particularly in rural and informal markets where digital payments remain limited.
They emphasize that fake currency not only erodes confidence in the Naira but also distorts prices, discourages legitimate trade, and deepens inflationary pressure.
The Ilorin convictions, observers say, represent a major success in Nigeria’s fight against financial crimes and a reminder that forensic precision remains one of the nation’s strongest weapons in protecting the integrity of its currency.
