New naira notes: Actress Simisola Gold remanded in Kirikiri

A Federal High Court in Lagos has remanded actress Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, better known as Simisola Gold, to the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke remanded her in custody pending the outcome of her bail application in a case brought against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The 31-year-old was arrested in early February by operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Fraud Related Offences Commission (ICPC) after videos of her spraying and stepping on newly redesigned naira notes at a party surfaced online.

She was later handed over to the EFCC, which charged her with naira abuse.

EFCC told the court on Monday that the actress tampered with the sum of N100,000 on January 28 in Lekki by spraying and trampling on the notes.

It said the act is an offense contrary to and punishable under section 21 (1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.

Simisola Gold, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Prosecution counsel S.I Sulaiman asked the court for a trial date and prayed that the defendant be remanded in the appropriate correctional facility.

Sulaiman prayed that, if the bail is granted, the conditions should be such that would enable her presence during trial.

Reacting, Adenike Goncalves, counsel to the defendant, prayed the court to admit the defendant to bail pending the hearing and determination of the case.

She also prayed that her client be remanded in EFCC custody, pending the approval of the bail terms.

The judge deferred the ruling on the bail application to February 15 and ordered that the defendant be remanded in Kirikiri.