Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, has sentenced Muhammed Bukar, a trader from Dikwa Local Government Area in Borno State, to six months imprisonment for offenses related to counterfeit currency and cybercrime.
The judgment followed charges brought by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which charged Bukar on two counts, affirming his involvement in the illicit activities.
Babatunde Oyedele, EFCC’s Director of Information, revealed that Bukar was apprehended on July 18, 2025, during a covert operation conducted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the Gerewu area of Ilorin. Authorities seized 93 counterfeit $100 bills from him, prompting his transfer to the EFCC for further scrutiny.
Further investigations by the EFCC unveiled Bukar’s participation in cybercrime operations.
One of the formal indictments stated: “That you, Muhammed Bukar, on or about the 18th of July 2025, at Ilorin within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, were found in possession of 93 pieces of $100 bills-ninety-two bearing the identical serial number ME 42703207 A E5, and one without any serial number-which you knew to be counterfeit, thereby contravening Section 5(1)(b) of the Counterfeit Currency (Special Provisions) Act, 1983, punishable under Section 5(1)(c) of the same Act.”
Upon being confronted with the charges, Bukar admitted guilt.
Following his confession, the prosecution, led by counsel Aliyu Adebayo, submitted evidence including testimony from EFCC investigator Abdulhakeem Sani. Sani presented several exhibits such as the 93 fake $100 bills, legitimate funds amounting to $1,400 linked to Bukar’s cybercrime activities, and two mobile devices-an iPhone 15 and an iPhone XR-which were instrumental in executing the offenses. These items were officially admitted as evidence during the trial.
Given the overwhelming proof and Bukar’s admission, Adebayo urged the court to deliver a guilty verdict.
After thorough deliberation, Justice Awogboro convicted Bukar on both counts, sentencing him to three months imprisonment per charge, to be served concurrently.
Moreover, the court mandated the confiscation of all seized items, including the counterfeit notes, the two iPhones, and the $1,400, which were subsequently transferred to the Federal Government of Nigeria.