The suspects, gave their names as Frankling Izukwu, Bright Mugbeyogho, Obi Alex,Elvis Iyomana, Osazee Osagede, Victoria Igbinosa and Deborah Uwa
The police boss, while Parading the suspects before newsmen in Benin City, said the command was implementing the presidential order prohibiting the illicit sales of Nigerian legal tender (Naira notes and coins) as enshrined in section 20, 21 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Acts no. 7, 2007.
He emphasized that section 21 of the CBN Act 2007 makes it a punishable offence for any person to hawk, sell or otherwise trade the naira notes or coins issued by the CBN.
Kokumo said the offender shall on conviction be punishable with imprisonment for a term not less than six months or to a fine not less than N50,000 or to both fine and imprisonment.
He said in carrying out the order, on Thursday, the Nigerian police, Edo state command and the Department of the State Security Service, Benin, in collaboration with the CBN, Benin, engaged on a sting operation aimed at forestalling illicit sales of the country’s currency notes which eventually led to the arrest of the 7 suspects.
Kokumo revealed that the clampdown on the naira notes vendors would be a continuous exercise until the offenders are completely erased from the society.
The suspects however denied having knowledge of the ban by the federal government on the sales of the country’s currency notes..
