For Philimon Ibrahim Gora, the law finally caught up with him — and there’s no walking away this time.
On Thursday, July 3, 2025, the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced Gora to five years in prison for being in possession of counterfeit US currency. There will be no option of fine, Justice James Omotosho ruled.
The case, which dates back to 2021, stemmed from Gora’s arrest after he was caught with 26 fake $100 bills, with 21 of them bizarrely carrying the exact same serial number: LB45440078L. That alone raised serious red flags — and set off a chain of investigations.
Initially charged with seven offences, the prosecution eventually narrowed the case down to one solid count: unlawful possession of counterfeit currency — a crime under Nigeria’s Counterfeit Currency Act.
The charge read in court was damning:
“That you, Philimon Ibrahim Gora… had in your possession, without lawful authority, 21 pieces of counterfeit $100 US bills… knowing them to be counterfeit… and thereby committed an offence.”
Gora had pleaded not guilty, forcing the matter into full trial. But during the proceedings, the prosecution — led by counsel A.O. Muhammad — brought in three witnesses who testified and pieced together the case against him.
In the end, Justice Omotosho found the evidence overwhelming.
Without hesitation, he declared Gora guilty and handed down a five-year jail sentence, sending a strong message that the courts will not tolerate currency counterfeiting.
From that day in 2021 when he was arrested with suspicious dollar bills to this final judgment in 2025, Gora’s fate was slowly sealed — and now, his next five years will be behind bars at a Nigerian correctional facility.
