Nigerian actress Simi Gold faces 6 months imprisonment for stepping on Naira notes

Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, a Nigerian actress better known as Simi Gold, has received a six month prison sentence with an option to pay a fine for an incident last year involving the country's currency.

In February last year, a video surfaced online showing Ms. Omoseyin at a friend's wedding party in Lagos.

In the video, she is seen dancing with 100,000 naira worth of the newly redesigned notes, spraying them and even stepping on some of the money.

This attracted the attention of Nigeria's anti-fraud agency, the EFCC, who arrested and charged her.

She initially pled not guilty but later changed her plea to guilty, recognizing the overwhelming evidence against her.

In court yesterday, through her lawyer Ms. Omoseyin asked for leniency as a first time offender and mother.

However, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke sentenced her to six months in prison with the option to pay a 250,000 naira fine instead.

The incident occurred during a time when there was high demand for cash due to the replacement of old banknotes.

Meanwhile, the country's central bank has since clarified the old notes will remain legal tender.