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Six employees of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, implicated in an N8billion defaced and mutilated currency recycling scam, were today remanded in Agodi prison custody following their arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
They were arraigned before Justice N. Ayo Emmanuel of a Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The suspects — Patience Okoro Eye; Afolabi Olufemi Johnson; Ilori Adekunle Sunday; Kolawole Babalola, Olaniran Muniru Adeola and Fatai Adedokun Yusuf — were arraigned on a five -count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraud and stealing.
They were alleged to have compromised an exercise by the CBN meant to mop up mutilated and defaced higher denomination currencies from circulation, to combat inflation.
Instead of destroying the currencies, they allegedly recycled the notes and substituted them with newspapers neatly cut to naira sizes.
When the charges were read to them, they pleaded not guilty.
Justice Emmanuel however adjourned the matter to June 9, 2015 for hearing of the bail applications and July 6 and 7, 2015 for commencement of trial.
He ordered that all the defendants be remanded in Agodi prison custody, Ibadan.