Operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, have arrested an actress, Omoseyin Oluwadarasimi Esther, aka Simisola Gold, with Twitter account @SimisolaofLala, for selling new naira notes on the internet.
According to a statement signed by ICPC spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua, in Abuja on Wednesday night, Simisola Gold was arrested following an intelligence report that prompted the anti-corruption agency to track her down and quickly arrest her.
The suspect is currently being held in ICPC custody and is helping the commission with its investigation of the criminal trading of the naira that has led to shortages and negative economic outcomes.
The statement reads,
“Oluwadarasimi Emma, a social media ‘serial entrepreneur’ who deals in skincare, sales of fuel, facilitation of foreign travels through visa acquisitions, and other businesses, seized the opportunity of the scarcity of the new naira notes to openly market the new notes. It is believed she is in collusion with key elements in the financial services sector diverting the newly released notes away from banking halls and payment channels into a ‘black market.’
She is currently in ICPC detention and is helping the Commission with its findings on the criminal trading of the naira and the attendant scarcity and negative economic outcomes being caused by the action. The action is in furtherance of the collaboration between CBN, ICPC, and EFCC in implementing the new cashless policy and naira redesign.”
