The Police have arrested Mr. Chukwuebuka Igwebuike in Enugu for possession of three hundred and sixty-two thousand Naira (N362,000.00) fake new naira notes.
Confessing the crime, the fraudster revealed his modus operandi; using fake one thousand Naira notes to pay for items of smaller cost to get change with genuine smaller denominations from the unsuspecting retailer.
In a police bulletin signed by the Enugu State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, the suspect was arrested on a tip and the fake currency in his possession was recovered.
“Police Operatives serving in Awkunanaw Division of the Enugu State Command, acting on a tip-off, on 19/12/2023 at about 6 p.m., arrested a male suspect, one Chukwuebuka Igwebuike aged 37, at Afor Market, Garki Awkunanaw, Enugu, and recovered from him, suspected counterfeit one thousand Nigerian Naira notes, totaling three hundred and sixty-two thousand Naira (N362,000.00).”
He further revealed that the suspect shall be arraigned in court and prosecuted accordingly once ongoing investigations are concluded.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police Enugu State Command, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, urges the public to be careful who they collect mint new naira notes from especially during this yuletide season.
The Commissioner also encourages the citizenry to quickly report anyone in possession of, or transacting in counterfeit Nigerian Naira notes, to the nearest Police Station for necessary policing actions.
The fake new naira notes in circulation can easily be detected if persons pay attention to the security details;
“The Naira banknotes are protected by several security features to enable the easy recognition of genuine notes. The distinguishing features that can be recognized by touch and visibility are the raised print, the security thread, and the watermark.”
“Other areas such as the portrait, lettering, and the denominational numerals on the obverse and reverse of the notes are embossed. The raised prints provide the tactility, while the security thread, which ordinarily, looks broken but is not when held up against the light, has “CBN” in small lettering printed on both sides of the notes.”
“The Naira notes are also protected against photocopying. There are also features, which are visible under ultraviolet light; for example, the serial number on each banknote is black, but turns green under ultraviolet light.” https://www.cbn.gov.ng/Currency/securityfeatures/SecurityFeatures.asp
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